Chomp, chomp, chomp

Ahhhhh another day to enjoy before my weekend camping at work. I am always a day behind on the online card classes.  I have watched a number of videos on the no-line stamping but the videos by Kristina Werner were especially good. She said to start out simple and that critters were  a good way to begin. 

I just discovered an AWESOME new company- Reverse Confetti. Hey Jennifer, Kristina.... hey Simon Says Stamp, Ellen Hutson.... come on you guys ya gotta  promote and carry these awesome stamps and dies!!

The set I used my my first real foray into no-line stamping was "later alligator". How fun is this whimsical critter! I used my new Zig Kuretake Gansai watercolors. I got my set from Amazon and with Prime, I received them the day I ordered them!! Talk about instant gratification!!  

I will admit, my shading isn't perfect, but that is the great thing about using critters to start- they are forgiving.

Shopping Our Stash is having a very cute challenge this week- "show us your smile" Oh come on I couldn't not show off my grinning alligator, and well while this stamp set isn't the oldest in my stash, it has been lonely for the last week waiting for me to ink it up!

I am going out on a limb and enter a second card at Inkspirational. They want green and orange cards.

Pleeeeeeeeeease check out Reverse Confetti. You won't be disappointed!

House of Cards April

Soooo this card is kinda like find Waldo, or an optical illusion. Can you see the flight of butterflies? Just keep looking and you will see them. I saw this technique at the Online Card Class Stretch you Dies. While the technique was not that hard it was a bit time consuming, but the results are way cool, dontcha think? 

This month is a photo color challenge at House of Cards. I used both the colors and the idea of the butterflies in flight.

Here is another view, maybe it is a bit clearer.

I hope you will join us at the House of Cards  this fun photo color challenge. I can't wait to see what you all come up with!

Clean and Simple Card Class 4- homework

I haven't posted or created much for that matter in the last few weeks. My class this semester is rather trying and is zapping all the creative energy I have. 

But today, I had that extremely rare event in the life of a nurse, a SNOW DAY!!!! Because of the storm we were expected to get, our medical director decided to close our endoscopy unit! Therefore this nurse gets to have some fun and play!!

I just finished catching up on the start of the Clean and Simple Card Class 4. Kristina Werner did a very cool video on "interrupted die cutting". She used a scallop die. I went for a heart rhythm die, that I have never used. With all the stamps I have, do you think I could find a"you make my heart beat" noooooo So I had to make do with "you make my heart flutter". For you medical people perhaps you can see how I could use this in a pinch- aflutter. Get it?!!?

If you haven't taken any of the online card classes, they are awesome. I always learn something new.

Check them out.

Pia- thanks for the nice comment, because you suggested, I am entering my card at the ombre challenge at Inkspiration.

Peace on Earth Online Card Class Homework

Please do not tell Dr. Ambrose that I have not been working on my final paper that is due in 2 weeks. I just can't get motivated when I would rather be doing my homework from the Holiday Online Card Class with Jennifer Maguire and Kristina Werner!

So, I gave myself permission to take this weekend off and play and I promise I will knuckle down next week. I watched a number of videos from class today. The funny thing was I really wanted to see how Laura Bassen made her winter wonderland scenic card, but it was Julie Ebersole's videos that stole the day for me.

My card today was combination of two cards she made and I really like the the subtle gold sparkle of the Delicata gold ink around the masked Martha Stewart dove punch. The saying is from the new brush stroke set from Papertrey Ink.

If you haven't taken any of the online card classes, you are really missing out on alot of fun and new techniques and ideas.

OK- gotta go more homework  to finish from class. Now I have to try that winter wonderland scene.

Design Team call at Just Us Girls!!

This has been an absolutely crazy week. I have been busy working between two departments at work and staying late most nights and school is in full swing. ( I have just started grad school for my Masters in  nursing) Today was my day off and I ended up going into work to help out. The gist of this rant is that I have been behind in everything I had to do this week.

Luckily, this week's challenge card has been made for weeks. Remember my crafting weekend? I worked way ahead on many of my challenges because I knew September was going to be trying.

 This week at Just Us Girls, we have some exciting news- we are looking for a new DT member. Here are the details:

If you are interested, just play in this week's challenge and when uploading your card, put a DT after your name.  The Team will then discuss and vote for the chosen new JUGHEAD.  We will announce the new member on Saturday, September 20th.  The new member will officially start in the October 4th challenge.  Good Luck!

This weeks tend challenge by Vicki is right on point- water coloring! Most of you know I have been all over this especially since I took the online water coloring class with Jennifer Maguire and Kristina Werner.  My card today is a technique I learned from the class using stencils. 

The quick version is that you make a very wet watercolor wash and then press your stencil into the wash and let it sit till it dries and then pull the stencil off.

I think the saying is perfect for the challenge because- "Yes you all can do anything!!" 

I hope many of you will considering applying as a DT member. I am the newbie at JUGS. I have been with them for a year this month and not only are the challenges fun, but the DT are wonderfully creative and supportive women! 

I hope to see your watercolor creations this week at Just Us Girls!

Freestyle stamping

I call this technique free style stamping, sounds fancy huh? It really just means doodling, something that I love to do. Did you know that doodling can make you smarted. Check out this article. Lots of famous people doodle also, so we doodlers are in great company.

While have done this technique for years, it wasn't until I was taking the new online class Stretch Your Stamps, that I was reminded of it.

I stamped gathered blooms using my favorite inks Momentos.

The trick with this technique is to think outside the box!! Instead of the stems on the gathered blooms, I saw a vase. I stamp the image off the paper, which always creates more interest.
I then put some ink directly to a craft sheet, but you just as easily use an acrylic block and added some greenery to the image with a waterbrush.

From there I began my doodling using an extra fine point sharpie. (make sure your piece is completely dry before doodling- no smears please.)

Here the doodling is just about complete. To finish it I added some accents to the vase and flowers. I created shadows around the image and added some splatters.The trick is just to have fun.

Stretch your stamps 2 homework- 2nd post for the day

I have been watching all the videos at the new online card class Stretch you Stamps 2, but today they had another no-line coloring technique by Melania Deasy that totally intrigued me. There was no video just some quick instructions which I read carefully.

I like how the technique turned out, but can still see some lines. They don't distract from the finished work though. I think the next time I will stamp off first, so the image is lighter.

Being a bit nervous this first time around, I used the copic colors that Melania suggested.

Sooooooo, other then learning a great new technique, I learned I don't always need a video to learn from.

Can't wait to try some of the other techniques offered today. 

If you have never taken any of the online card classes, you should. They offer so many techniques and ideas for a great price point and the classes are always available.

Watercolor class homework- direct to stamp

I hope many of you have been able to take advantage of the online card class Watercolor for Cardmakers.  Over the past 6 days there have been fabulous techniques demonstrated by masters in card making such as Jennifer Maguire, Kristina Werner, Jennifer Rzasa, Shari Carroll and Sanketi among others.

On day 4, Shari Carroll showed us how to use gelatos on our stamps for an awesome watercolor look. As you know, not one to keep up on trends I have no gelatos, but I do have watercolor crayons and I used them directly on to the tulip stamp from Rubbernecker and spritzed the stamp heavily with water and I stamped onto watercolor paper.

This card is the second generation stamping that I accented with an extra-fine sharpie to make it look like and outline stamp.

This is the same stamp done with reds. They almost look like poppies don't they? Can't wait to see what else is in store for us!

Hope you enjoyed my take on Shari's technique!

Trends

I have often said that I am way behind with trends in paper crafting, but the trend for watercolor anything is one I have heartily embraced in a timely fashion. So what with Jennifer Maguire and Kristina Werner's "Watercoloring for Cardmaker's class starting Monday, I had to pull out my watercolors. I have had the one set from the time I was a kid and it is well loved! Can you guess which one?

This week's sketch challenge at Just Us Girls is being hosted by Cheryl.  I have been trying to create CAS cards for the sketch challenges, which mean minimal layers. This sketch worked perfect for the idea I had. 

I just took a flat brush and spread on overlapping stripes of watercolor and just stamped the "artiste" image over the paint. it was so much fun I had to make one in cooler blues and greens.

Remember, you don't always need lots of pattern papers and layers for sketches. Think outside the box and join us at Just Us Girls this week!

Give Thanks

More Thanksgiving Cards when we are having an Indian summer. The sky is a brilliant blue and the sun is shining warmly in the 80's. 

Over at Try Stampin' on Tuesday the theme for our sketch this week is "Give Thanks". I wanted to do a bit of a spin on the sketch, so the I die cut the circle to create a window. I created a "floating element".

I used my favorite Thanksgiving set from Amuse- Bounty of the Season. I use it quite a bit. And because I just finished the Online card class, Insider, I decided to finish the inside of my card. The sentiment was strategically placed behind the sentiment on the front of the card.

I hope you join us with your own creations at Try Stampin' On Tuesday.

Summer Card Camp Week 1, Day 5 Inspiration

 

I got up early and caught up on day 5 at Summer Card Camp 2.  While Jennifer's card technique was cool (I will try it soon) it was Kristina's card with the embossed acetate window that caught my eye. i used one of the new color combos suggested, not ones I usually work with.

You know me, I just love acetate and I have embossed it before, but never as a window. The card was a bit time consuming but so worth it. A CAS card that takes time. I used an old spellbinder's fish die and die cut them using polka dot paper. I just love polka dots and over at CAS-ual Fridays they are featuring polka dots for this week's challenge. 

Don't you love how the acetate is embossed with swirls just like ocean waves? The fish are swing around in the ocean with a backdrop of aqua polka dot paper. The base card is embossed to represent the bubbles fish blow in the water.

Other challenges that I am entering this in are: Just Add Ink- featuring cards using water literally or as an inspiration, Addicted to CAS, featuring water as the inspiration, and Crazy 4 Challenges, featuring marine life.

I wished I had one of those cute little fish sayings like Happy Birthday Fishes so I had to be content with "don't forget to have some fun today".

I apologize for the not so perfect photos- just one of those crazy lighting days.

Have a great weekend!

Summer Card Camp 2 week 1, day 4

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Time for camp! Not just any camp but Summer Card Camp!

Three weeks of designs, inspiration and challenges with our favorite counselors- Jennifer Maguire and Kristina Werner and a bunk house full of guest counselors.

What with work, school and doctor appointments today is the first day I have actually been able to sit down and practice what we have learned in the past few days.

I decided to really challenge myself with the 10 minute challenge. I figured with all my work with making CAS cards this should be a no brainer. LIke others, I gathered my materials and had them ready. I used a card base and some scrap paper- that yes was trimmed in the time frame. I used CAS-ual Friday's Bold Wishes stamp set and a old stamp saying from some unknown set. I used the colors combo required and and one of the card sketches as the basis of my inspiration.

As you can see I made it in 8 minutes and 4 seconds. I wished I had taken advantage of the las minute or so to more carefully cut out my embellishment for the card. and I wish I had trimmed the card down so when I added the embellishment it would fit in a standard envi. It's like in the food challenge Chopped, where the chef finishes their dish with a few minutes left and doesn't clean the plates! But this isn't bad for my first 10 minute card and what the hey, I can go back now and fix it. I can, can't I??!!?