Happy 16th birthday...

 My sister sent me several "fashion girl" images that were already cut out and ready to place on cards. Because they were images of young girls, I decided to use a couple of them for 16th birthday cards. I popped each girl up on foam squares.

I used a die that features a pierced design for the background. I really love these dies as they add such nice texture.

The "Happy" and "Birthday" were from a sticker sheet that I've had for years! They're tiny, so I haven't used them much, but I thought they worked fine for these cards.

I cut the "16th" out with a number die set. The swirly corner was also cut with a die from my collection of corner dies.

On the inside, I matted my sentiment panel with the same cardstock as was used on the front.

The sentiment was computer-generated.

These cards were fun to make. I actually made three of them and donated them to the thrift store.

While our company was here, we took them to the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I love going there, and when I do, I always have to visit my favorite sculpture--the "Veiled Lady" by Raffaelo Monti (1860). I am always amazed that a sculptor could make you think you were looking at a lady's face through her veil, when it's all made of stone!

This effect is achieved by leaving the portion of stone that makes up the veil unpolished, and polishing the rest of the sculpture. It's actually more amazing than this picture shows. There are other sculptors who have created veiled ladies, so if you ever get a chance, go see one!

This is a picture of my son-in-law and me studying the Veiled Lady at the MIA.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Birthday wishes for a guy who fishes...

I saw this sentiment on Pinterest, and knowing that I had a fishing-themed die set, I just had to use it.

I printed four sentiments on a sheet of white cardstock first. Then I cut the cardstock into four panels that would fit onto A2 size card bases.

After adding a little color with a blending brush to the center of my panel, I adhered a die-cut rod and reel, a can of worms and a small red  bobber. Then I moved on to the inside where I added a fun pop-out.

The dangling worm on a hook was part of my die set. I drew the line in with a fine-tipped black felt pen. The fish is surprisingly easy to make. It takes just one cut into the card liner and a couple of strategic folds to create. I used a couple different sizes of die-cut hearts from patterned paper for the tail and fins. The inside sentiment was also printed with my computer.

The fish's eyes were made with a couple of small circle punches, and I stamped "Happy Birthday" on the pink piece of paper before adding it to the inside behind the fish's open mouth.

Since I made four of these to donate to the thrift store, I kept them quite simple. If I were making them for family members or friends, I would probably add some inking to make the background to look more like water. I would also add some water plants and maybe even a river/lake bottom.

Our kitchen is finally beginning to look like a kitchen again. The cabinet boxes were installed yesterday. Below is a photo of a portion of the kitchen. There are no doors on the cabinets, yet, and, of course, no appliances, but it will all come together before we know it!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Floral slimline card...

 My stepdaughter's birthday was in August, and this is the card I made for her. I stamped the image using a light-colored ink. Then I used a stencil and blending brush to lay down a very light base of color on each flower.

Instead of using the other stencils to add shading, I used my water color pencils and a water brush to add some depth to the petals and leaves. I also outlined each of the petals with a colored pencil.

When my coloring was done, I created a mask for my flowers so that I could use a blending brush to add some color to the background.

Using the water brush did cause my cardstock to warp, since it wasn't extra heavy. All I had to do to straighten it out was run it through my laminating machine. Voila! It became perfectly flat once again.

Finally, I stamped the sentiment, and then adhered the panel to my slimline card base.

For a final touch, I added some clear dots.

Since there is so much room on the inside of a slimline card, I stamped just the largest flower again with yellow ink.

This card took quite a while for me to make because I'm such a slow colorer, but I actually really enjoyed the coloring. I am going to try this process again with other stamp and stencil sets. I feel like I get better shading and have more control if I add it with colored pencils.

Do you like to use stamp and stencil sets? Even if you use all the stencils to add different shades of color, I recommend trying to add some additional shading with colored pencils. I figure if I can do it, anyone can!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Let's Craft and Create Challenge #187: Anything Goes or Frame It! (Option)...

Well, the summer has disappeared in a flash, and here we are in September. It's the beginning of fall in Minnesota--one of the prettiest times of the year when the leaves turn to red, gold and yellow. Sometimes, the tree-lined streets in my neighborhood are absolutely breathtaking!

Starting a new month also means it's time for another challenge at Let's Craft and Create. This month the challenge guidelines include "Anything Goes" or "Frame It!" Paper Nest Dolls Digi Stamps has generously offered to sponsor this month's challenge, so I've used one of their fun images for my card.

Meet Avery with Coffee (with glasses) from Paper Nest Dolls. Isn't she great? She was so much fun to color--not hard at all...really! I used alcohol markers plus a little chalk (for her cheeks) and a gel pen (for her glasses and the polka dots on her sweater).

I had so much fun coloring her, that I actually made two of these cards.

The scalloped oval--those scallops represent my "frame"--is popped up on foam tape.

I couldn't help but stamp and color a couple of coffee beans. I fussy-cut them and popped one of them up on a tiny foam square in the lower left corner.

On the inside, I couldn't choose between two stamps I had on hand, so I decided to use them both, plus a couple more coffee beans. I also decided that it is not a crime to stamp them at an angle. In fact, it's rather fun--no worrying about lining them up perfectly parallel to the top of the card!

Be sure to check out Paper Nest Dolls. I am sure you'll find something fun to play with; they have so many cute images.

We're looking forward to seeing your entries in our September challenge at Let's Craft and Create. Click the link to see lots of inspiration from the Design Team.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Cute little monsters...

 

I made these two fun birthday cards (to be donated to the thrift store) a couple of weeks ago. They sold immediately, so I definitely need to make some more. Those cute monsters were so much fun to make.

This was the first one that I made. His head/body is popped up on foam tape, but his hands and feet are glued to the card.

Look at those fangs and the claws on his feet! So tiny! I have to be careful not to lose them when I'm taking them out of the die.

The die also impresses some "spots" on his face, so I enhanced them a bit with some clear Nuvo Drops. I few "warts" just makes him more handsome.

I thought a purple monster would work for either a boy or a girl.

For this card, I die-cut the sentiment out of glitter cardstock and added a few holographic stars.

When I make more of these, I'm going to make a pink monster, too, with a little bow on her head. he he

For each card, I printed a sentiment with my computer. The word "big" looks a little faded in this photo because I had a smudge on my camera lens. I had already taken these to the thrift store when I noticed it in the photo, so I couldn't retake it.

Last night I went to a local high school football game to see my granddaughter perform with her high school marching band. They played prior to the game and also put on a half-time show. They were SO GOOD! One of the songs they played was Michael Jackson's "Thriller," and everyone in the band, except the tubas, baritones and drums, did a choreographed dance in between two run-throughs of the song. It was just great and so much fun to see my granddaughter, who was placed right up front with her trombone during "Thriller." I hope I didn't embarrass her with my loud cheering.

Anyway, I had a monsterous good time at the game.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Special delivery...

 

This card was made with a combination of items the thrift store had given me to use and items I had in my stash.

The green scalloped square with the lamb image and buttons, as well as the card base, were pre-made items I received from the store.

I added the lacy-edged rectangle, the strip of pink CS with bow, and the sentiment, popped up on foam tape.

I thought the pink and green were such a nice color combination for a baby card. The "little lamb" image is super cute, too, don't you think?

The inside was stamped with a simple sentiment, and my card was done!

This is another card that was donated to the thrift store. Baby cards seem to sell quickly there.

Now a few pictures of the progress on our kitchen. The walls have been sheetrocked, but they still have to mud and sand the seams and screw holes.

This is the new arched opening to the kitchen area and the stairs.

These two walls will hold the bulk of the cabinets. The sink will be under the window, as you can see from the rough-in plumbing there.

This will be the "cooking alcove" where the stove and a few more cabinets will be located.  This arch was already there, and they made the new archway in the first picture to match this one.

Lots more work ahead to finish it up. It's actually going pretty smoothly, given that this is a house that was built in 1927 and most of the structure is still intact as originally built. That means lots of plaster and lath (think LOTS of dust and dirt when deconstructing). I will be so glad when this is over, I think I'll throw myself a party! LOL

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

It's o-fish-ally your day...

 

I nearly forgot to write a post for today, so here I am doing it during lunchtime.

I made these cards for the thrift store using some fun, dimensional fish stickers. I also used the last of my water-like background paper (and I REALLY wish I had more of it!).

These cards were super simple to make. I cut some "coral" with one of my foliage dies. I also added some clear Nuvo Drops for bubbles. You can see in the photo at left that they're not dry yet, as they dry clear.

I printed the sentiment with my computer, cut it out with a dotted-edge die and popped it up with foam tape.

I think I should have made my bubbles different sizes, but hopefully, I'll remember to do that next time. The fish stickers, by the way, came from Dollar Tree. It's always fun to go through their stickers and see if there are any that will speed up my cardmaking for the thrift store.

The inside of each card was stamped with a fun sentiment. 

We have lots of customers at the thrift store that are grandma/grandpa age, so I try to make a few cards that they would enjoy sending to their grandchildren.

And now for a little "remodeling news." The sheetrockers have arrived and are setting up in the kitchen area as I type this. I'll take a photo when they get the kitchen sheetrocked and share it in my next post.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl