My Last Hurrah for the Oozak Design Team

Well, it has been a great 4 months, working with the Oozak Challenge Blog Design Team.  The ladies and Rusty (Oozak's owner) have been so wonderful and helpful, and I am sad to say goodbye. 

My final task was to create a card for the Anything goes/Fall challenge.  Stop by and play along!  You KNOW you are making Fall cards right now!

I made this--

Yes, I actually parted with one of my desperately hoarded flair pieces for this one!

I stamped a block of brown paper with leaves from GinaK Designs Fall Foliage set in white pigment ink.  (The sentiment is also from that set.)  I love how the white  ink layers on itself!

After heat setting, I ran it through the ol' Cuttlebug in a wood grain embossing folder from Stampin' Up.  That got foam mounted onto an Olive green card base. 

I punched leaves and that scalloped circle from some My Mind's Eye paper, and used more to create my banner strips, along with a scrap of white for the sentiment.   Notice all the blue going on?  I am loving blue for fall this year!  Aren't you seeing it everywhere?

Everything then got piled up, using both flat and dimensional adhesives.  I popped on my blue wood grain flair piece, and that baby was outta here! 

Outta here.  That's me.  Thanks so much Oozak!  Wishing you all the best!
Just because my time with Oozak is done, doesn't mean I will quit creating!  Come and see me, anytime!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

The Crazy, Weird, Bad, Rotten, No Fun Week, and Oh, Did I MENTION There's a Plumber Here Right Now? And a Card.

Okay, so DATELINE--

Thursday night, two weeks ago, while on business in Massachusetts, Charlie has this pain in his side that wakes him up in the night, and REALLY hurts.  Friday is very painful, and somewhere along the line of the day he realizes that this was a bigger version of pain he had, oh, about three weeks earlier.

He goes to WebMD, and puts in his symptoms.  One of MANY options says it could be an appendix problem, but he has very few of the symptoms, other than the pain.  However, it says DO NOT use any pain killers or laxatives, because it could cause problems.  Lucky for us, he is a very good rule follower.  He calls our Doc to see what's up, and gets an appointment for Monday morning. 

So, as Friday continues, the pain subsides; he flies home.  The weekend brings less and less pain, but he goes to the doc on Monday morning, and after everything else it could be gets ruled out, he is sent to the hospital for imaging--a CT, as I remember. 

All this time, I'm saying to him, "I am happy to come with you, do you want me to meet you at the hospital?"  No, no, no...

Finally, at about 6pm, I get the call.  "They are doing the surgery tonight, at nine.  You better come on over."  I grab my keys, and off I dash.

Well, the 9pm surgery didn't actually go in until midnight, and by the time I got him settled in his hospital room and got home, it was 4:30am.  I was back at the hospital at 7:30am.  Turns out the appendix had perforated, re sealed itself, perforated AGAIN, and was trying to reseal itself a second time.  Let's all be grateful for the self healer in our lives.

That's when the sinus infection decided to rear ITS ugly head in my body.

So, HE's in the hospital for two nights, I'm ready to pull my teeth out, they hurt so badly, and I am just about at the EDGE of my sanity bandwidth....
Well, Wednesday he is allowed to go home, and on Thursday, I finally(!) called the Dr. to see about my (seemingly) swollen and distended head.

So, Thursday, I am sent to bed with antibiotics and meds, he is sent to bed to recoup, and all will one day be well.  We're resting, we're quiet, we're good.

Then.

Sunday.  I had mentioned somewhere along the way that the kitchen faucet was sticky-acting, and not what it was.  Next thing I know, it's in pieces, and I get the call across the house, "I NEED you!"

Well, the thing never DID get put back together properly.  Oh, and we found that after shutting off and turning on the water several(!) times, that the valve that does the shutoff was corrupted.  So.....

Yeah.  The plumber, bless him, is here right now.  New valve, AND new faucet (of course), thank you very much.  Let's just say, it's a GOOD thing Charlie is back to work today.  $$$ -wise, that is.

Oh, but I DO have a card for you.  Super CAS.

I made this--

This is a Unity Stamp set, and that pitcher was just BEGGING to be done in Delft blue. Quick stamp, and some waterbrush accenting of the shape and shadows...That's it!

Oh, yeah.  The sentiment is done in Versafine Smokey Gray.  LOVE that ink. Dark enough for a sentiment to really show up, but not black, and nice and warm.
I also would love something a bit softer, so any suggestions there would be nice!

I think making the image panel float on the base with foam tape makes a CAS card just a little bit more.....considered.

So, that's my story.  I am still holing up, trying to get rid of this gunk in my nose and chest, and wishing I could flush my toilets and clean my dishes. (Happily, that will happen in less than an hour!) 

Go!  Create!  I fear I must stay here and moan.   Mmmmm.......Mmmmmm.......Mmmmmm....

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best to you.  Stay healthy!
Richard

What the Heck Do These Sentiments MEAN, Anyway?

I went on a buying spree at my local JoAnn's a while back, when they were doing clearance stamp sets for something like $2.99 a set.  I am a true sucker for the word "sale."  I snapped up MANY sets.

So, now I own this veggie set of stamps, and while I think the art is really pretty wonderful, I am at a loss when it comes to deciding who gets a card whose sentiment is "grow where you're planted."  Is it for the gardener friend?  For someone who's just moved? Gone to a new school/job?  I am not really sure.  O f course, I COULD just ignore the sentiment pieces...

But, anyway, I made a card--

The idea I was going for, MOSTLY, was the idea of trying to get my doily to line up on the two surfaces.  I had seen a similar idea on Pinterest (BTW--I would normally link to the inspiration piece, but I have WAY too many pins, and I can't find it.  I DID look.), and I found it was actually not as easy as it looks.   This is mostly due to the fact that I am not in love with how big the matting piece has to be if you try that double/tripe time stamping technique everyone was so mad for recently.  So, subsequently, mine took a more circuitous route, but I got there!  If I did this again, I would probably also try to finish the doily on the white piece.  Shoulda, woulda, coulda...

The other thing that was a fun thing to try is the little die cut at the top, where I inserted a piece of vellum.  Can you see it?  It's the white piece, the green one, and then the vellum.  NOTE-  Make the vellum big enough to line the entire inside of the front of your card.  My little hunk of vellum doesn't look so cute, and it is easy enough to avoid that with a bigger piece.

My buttons are "threaded" with tiny strips of cardstock.  I think that is easier than floss or twine, for me, and it matches so nicely.  No needle hunting, either!

So, I ultimately think this is a good card.  I think, however, it may sit in my stash for some time, or at least until I find a good candidate to send it to.  IDEAS?

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great start to your week.
All Best-
Richard

A Great Way to Look at Things

I'm investigating more of my "gifted" stamps this time--These were given to me by the oh-so-tanned Jan Farrington, who was a wannabe stamper at one moment in her life, but found out quickly it was not for her.  It seems one cannot stamp and tan simultaneously.  She's my sister-in-law, by the way, and really quite fabulous. And tan.  Did I mention that?

All the better for ME! 

Well, she has a birthday coming up in November, and while this card will probably NOT be hers, it was made with her in mind, and with her stamps.  (She MAY actually get it, if my schedule happens to be tight the week before! YOU know how THAT goes!)

Anyway, I made this--

Wow, I'm just noticing how lousy this photo is.  My apologies.

SO, this started on a block of white cardstock, and I stamped the palm tree and flip-flops in versamark and embossed in clear powder.  Then I did the sentiment (don't you LOVE that?  You GO Virginia Woolf!) in versamark and embossed that in gold!  Sun, gold...get it?

I then started sponging in some blue ink from the center, highlighting all my elements, but leaving the edges.  I went back in with another sponge, and my Delicata gold ink, and highlighted the edges.  I think it made a wild effect as the inks blended.  Sadly, the sparkle gets lost in the photo, but the richness is wicked cool.

I matted the whole thing on a goldy-orange striped paper, and that went on my card base.  I didn't think it really wanted anything else, with all the gold, so it was really pretty simple!

So, there's my card.  Hope it brings you some sunshine!

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker's Head is in the Clouds

Well, I finally got to play with some of the awesome collection of stamps my friend AJ Otto gifted me a while back.  Boy was THAT fun!  New stamps, especially ones you didn't have to shop for, reach into a fantastic place in your brain, making all your creative juices percolate and ooze. 

Well, some things turned out really great, and some were sorta "meh." I attribute it to just not finding the right groove with these stamps, or at least, not finding it yet. 

Anyway, to get started, I did a couple along the same lines.  I like to see what different colorways do to an idea.

I made these--

I think I was trying to line up the stamp in order to strengthen the lines, and I clearly missed.  I have no idea why I would have tried to do a shadow stamp here, so...

I do like the juxtaposition of the stamped and die cut clouds.  Any cloud is good for me!  I think I could have been more successful had I masked the balloon or cut out another one and mounted it on top.  (I may do that yet!)

 

 

As you can see, here I started with stronger lines, so that's better.  Still not sure why I thought it was okay for the balloon to be transparent....oh well...

So!  Learned here--
Panel placement and clouds = good!  balloon on top of pre-stamped clouds = not-as-good. 
Oh yeah--The die cut clouds are done with shimmer paper.  Me likey that, almost as much as my Amuse Studio Clouds Duo dies!

I guess there's a learning curve for almost all of our new supplies!  That's why our best work comes when we are playing around, amiright?

Go play!

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Oh, For the Love of .....

*******This is my SECOND POST for today!  Go see the earlier one, too!  (It's even better!)******



I have NO idea how I managed to mess this one up, but I MISSED letting you all in on the new challenge over at the Oozak.com Challenge blog.  This time it's an "anything goes with die cuts/punches" challenge.  Take a look and see what everyone's come up with!

My card looks like this--

I'm at it again with Wplus9's Fresh Florals set, and I am all over the place with die cuts from Spellbinders and Papertrey Ink.  I particularly love the hexagons--They are cut from a gift bag!

This card went to my dear friend, Miss Betty Ann Grove, a one-time Broadway star.  She was in the original casts of George M! with Joel Gray and Bernadette Peters, and I Remember Mama, as well as  being the "girl singer" on the TV show, Stop the Music.  Today (September 9) is her birthday, and I hope you'll join me in sending her good health and happiness across the miles!

Thanks so much for stopping by!
All Best to you--
Richard

When Only the Very Best Will Do..

You know how sometimes you make a card, and it all just comes together SO well that you hate to part with it?

Yeah, not too often, but sometimes.  For me, anyway...

Well, I made this card a while ago, and I really loved it.  It all fell right into place, the colors and the angles, and the washi tape--everything.

I decided that I would save it, and maybe even submit it for publication.  'Cause I'm looking to get famous from all of this, don'tcha know.

Uh, yeah...That didn't happen.  My friend Karlah's birthday came up, instead.  Karlah and I were besties back in high school, and she's one of those "forever on the top of the list" folks that we all have in our lives.  You don't hold back on people like that.

So, off it went. 
It looks like this--

I made this card (on a 4 1/4" square base) with Wplus9's Fresh Florals set on the inner die cut and the sentiment, and Avery Elle's Celebrate set to do that embossed white frame.

I stamped the flowers, and got the whole thing done before I noticed it was WAY too bright to go with the My Mind's Eye paper I hose for the background.  Well, I wasn't about to chuck it, so I grabbed my white pigment ink and a sponge, and I slowly and gently knocked all the colors back into a more pastel looking place.  I almost looks like a misty garden, I think.

I used a Memory Box die to do the tree.  A few scraps of paper, some rhinestones on top of sequins, some washi, and there it is.
 I think the mix of elements and the way they all balanced out is the reason I find this one to be so successful.  If I could get that to happen ALL the time, that would be good. This is why we practice!

I have been trying to be aware of the fact that you can do lots of overlapping elements  that leave the frame of the card base, as long as you REMEMBER to cut the card base back (which doesn't always happen for me), and keep tabs on how far your overlapping is going.
 My goal is to get the thing into an envelope, so I keep an eye out for it NOT to exceed the 4 1/4"x5 1/2" measurements.  I rarely have occasion to do cards that go without envelopes, though I know others do really well at that.  Of course you could MAKE envelopes, too, but I like ready made when I can do it.

Karlah really loved her card-- maybe as much as I did.  (I am suspecting an unhealthy obsession here)
I am wistful about it, but there's more where THAT came from!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Please tell your crafty friends that I'm here, and invite them to stop by.  Never enough friends to be had!

All best to you--
Richard

Mr Cardmaker is a Commission Guy....

Well, you may remember my first commission card, the "squirrel with the ogre" card.  No?  You can read all about it here.  My "customer" was a former hair client from Boston. 

Well, I have yet again been approached by a former client, the oh-so-wonderful Ms. Lina, who needed a fancy birthday card for her mom's birthday.  The brief included tips like, "She likes nature, she is a scientist, she is from Denmark..."

Soooooo....Flowers!  Flowers are from nature! And they have them in Denmark! 

I pulled out my Wplus9 Fresh Cut Florals stamps with matching dies, and got to work!

I made this--

Now, I had originally had a "make a wish" sentiment as that banner, but Lina said that they don't do the blow out the candles thing in Denmark, and she'd really like it to be personalized with her birthday.  I managed this with a Stamps of Life set called Calendar to Build. 

Let me tell you how FUN it is to cut and stamp these flowers!  Oh, man, I had every ink I own out at some point, mixing and matching.  It is amazing how much impact you get from these tiny, tiny die cuts.  I was one happy stamper doing this card. 

I also went to town with foam adhesive, lifting the flowers into this massive bouquet.  I then decided to make an even bigger display by adding in some Sizzix leaf die cuts done in green cardstock.  I made a good, solid padding piece to go over the top of it all, by taking a thick piece of cardstock and passing it through my crimper.  I sure did NOT want this one crushed after getting it "just so."

Then for the inside, I kept the stamps out, and added a second bouquet.
I made this--

Easy peasy-  I stamped the sentiment (Papertrey Ink), then used post-its to mask it off.  Then I it was a matter of stamping more flowers and leaves. I later realized that I didn't leave very much room to write.  Oh well!  You COULD write over the flowers if you want.....But I hope she doesn't.

So, I am waiting to hear whether Mom likes it or not, but as you can see, I will have to wait until after the 19th.
 
I had so much fun making it, and I get PAID!  I'm gonna make it RAIN up in here!


Thanks for stopping by!
All Best--
Richard

Hello, Autumn...

Well, this is a quick one, today, because we have some friends coming tomorrow for the Labor Day weekend, and I have to clean and shop, and cook and stuff...

So, the first of the autumn cards are showing up in blogland, and I am happy to say I too, have gotten started.

I made this--

I did the stamping with GinaK Designs Fall Foliage set, and I did a rock and roll sort of thing with different inks.  I sprayed the stamp with alcohol before stamping in some instances, and on some of the leaves I stamped over them with the same stamp, and just one color.  Clearly some experimentation was being done here! 

I also like that I sneaked (snuck?) in some aqua tones.  Any chance to shake up the traditional colors thing...

I used my Stampin' Up wood grain embossing folder on the background piece, and added some white pigment ink directly to the raised surfaces. 

One day I will master the "white gel pen stitching" technique, but not today. 

Oh, and those acorn diecuts are done with a Papertrey Ink die, and run trough several embossing folders.

SO, that's the kick off!  Let the autumn begin!  (I'm not a summer person, anyway...)

Have a great holiday weekend, to those who do Labor Day-

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker is Going to Need Some More Coffee...

Well, I have a really large stack of cards to photograph.  For some reason, this is a chore for me.  I think because my light box is in the basement, and the computer is in the office, the cards are in the craft space....I am in need of a better system.  Did I mention I live with a Lean Six Sigma systems expert?  I have no excuse, really.

HOWEVER!  Our niece Jessie just got a job offer at a Government agency, and we are over the moon about it!  She HAD to get a card, right?  So, I ran to my workspace, got going, and worked.  And worked.  And worked.  And finally, I came up with a card.  Unfortunately, it looked sort of...well, WORKED.  Tortured, actually.  Over-designed (thank you, Project Runway, for that term), too much stuff in all the wrong places.

Maybe I'll save it for a Friday Fix card, one day. 

Anyway, I started over, and went in the directly other direction.  Simple, simple, simple.

I used to be so afraid of CAS cards.  Now I live for them.

I made Jessie this--

 

I LOVE this stamp set from CAS-ual Fridays.  AND, I love embossing it in gold. 

 

So, this is as simple as three panels of paper, one popped up and corner-rounded, and some sequins, and there it is!  (it DID take me about 10 minutes to pick the right sequins, btw...)

 

It's all about putting the right stuff in the right spot, folks!  Sometimes it takes hours to do it, however...

 

She loved it.  That makes me smile.

 

Meanwhile, time to get my butt down to the light box, then back up to the computer; with a detour into the craft space first to GET the cards...

 

I need coffee.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best-

Richard

 



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.