Mr Cardmaker is CLEARLY a Twelve-Year-Old

   
Hi there. You may be wondering why I haven't posted lately (or not), so I felt the need to share that we are in the middle of a move to Massachusetts, and things have been more than hairy around here. We DID manage a little vacation in the midst of it all, because it was PAID FOR, so that says even more about why I haven't been here in blogland. I will get back to posting more regularly ASAP, but until then, please enjoy this crazy post...

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A few years ago, I read Misadventures in the (213) by Dennis Hensley. Amazon has it HERE.
I read it on vacation in Key West, and I made a HUGE fool out of myself, cackling and ROARING from my poolside lounge chair. One of the funniest books, EVAH. For reals.

In it, the main character talks about the game he plays with his starlet best friend.
It's called smelt it, dealt it, and it pretty much involves what you think it does.

So, you open any magazine, find a photo with two or more people, and decide who is the dealer, and who is the smeller.

Things like this are especially good--


Get it?

The more subtle ones are even funnier--


Teehee...

Ok, before I lose you for good....
I made some cards!
I HAVE mentioned that the kids in my family are almost ALL BOYS, right?
Boys get these things..

I fell in deep, deep love with Tim Holtz's Bird Crazy stamps, and, well, let's say they SPOKE to me (ahem).

Using these wonderful, crazy fowl, I made these--
The "Smelt it, Dealt it" series!

1)

And inside--

Okay, the red-rimmed, glossy eyes on these birds STILL make me giggle like a fool...

2)

And inside-

Next, I limited the amount of coloring I did, to exaggerate the eyes...
3)

And inside--

Trying things in reverse order...

4) 

5)

And inside-

That chick's face just KILLS me. 

Now, these birds stack up nicely, don't they?...

6)





And inside--

Yes, they do indeed sell that stamp...

Well, if you're not COMPLETELY offended, you hopefully got a good laugh here today.
I know my boys will get a chuckle on their birthdays, and I'll save that last one as a good "cheer up" card for just the right person.

Now, go find a magazine and have yourself a laugh!

Thanks so much for stopping by (and for indulging my 12 year-old self)!
All Best-
Richard

PS-See you soon!

Mr Cardmaker Gets on a Jag

I decided that I just COULD NOT put away my Beautiful Butterflies stamps from Papertrey Ink.

I made the bright rainbow ones HERE, and I wondered what would happen with a tighter color scheme.

I looked at my ink stash, and saw that I had several varieties of purple at my disposal.
SO, I made these--



So, staying in a tighter color scheme definitely makes for a "quieter riot", but I am pretty happy with the results. Purples seem to live in a more "stately" place anyway, in my mind's eye.

 

Oh, and the sentiment?

Yeah.

So, the hubby, aka Mr C's Mr., talked me into doing a handwritten sentiment. Good idea; BAD execution. I don't really have the right pens, and I didn't take the time to sketch it in pencil first, so it just looked lousy.

 

 

 

AND, I had stamped four of  these cards, and each one looked worse that the one before.

Happily, we all know all about taking desperate measures to save our creations, and I came up with this.

There's a vellum circle under the designer paper one, and the letters are clear embossed to give them some shine.

I think the little veneer butterfly is a nice natural touch, and helps fill some negative space that I was unhappy with.

 

 

 

I am now happy to let these stamps have a rest and cool off for a minute, but I know I'll be back with some more color combinations soon. Happily, butterflies last aallll the way through summer!

(Red, white and blue butterflies for July 4th, anyone?)

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

All Best--

Richard