Dallas Girl ~ Part Two

I'm back today to share with you my second card in the Unity Stamps August Challenge ~ Use one stamp kit three ways.

Again using Unity Stamps Dallas Girl by Artist Angie Blom, here is my entry for Card two.

I only used a black and a grey coloring pencil to color Dallas Girl for this card. I added the ledge for her to stand on overlooking the mountains and the birds flying by.

She is matted on black then put on a REVERSE open card (the FOLD is on the right) with black wood grain matting and a black card base.  This part of the card is 2 3/4 wide by 5" tall.  {Set aside to make the other side of the card base.}

I stamped the Unity sentiment and laced a heart charm around this  matted strip of black card stock.  

The large black base piece is 7 1/4" wide by 5 3/4" tall.  Fold in the left side at 2 1/4".  The white wood grain strip for the left panel is 2" x 5 1/2" and the piece for the right side is 5" wide by 5 1/2" tall. After those are cut, aligned and glued, I folded the left flap over, and positioned the right side of the card so that the left edge is about 1/4" under the left flap, then glued.  Once the right side of the card is secured, then I added the left sentiment strip, being sure it was centered with the right side image.  

This reverse center Fancy Fold is very unique and displays well also.  It's actually the first time I've done an image in just black & gray pencil - I love color so much - but I do love the way this turned out.  

Thanks for coming to see Card two... Card three tomorrow.

Serving a Risen Savior,
Pam

Dallas Girl ~ Part One

For the month of August, Unity Stamps has issued a challenge to use one stamp kit three different ways.  I selected Dallas Girl, by artist Angie Blom.  

Today I'd like to show you my entry for Card One.

Of course I'd start with Copic markers, my favorites!  The colors I used for Dallas Girl are referenced below also.  After coloring, I fussy cut around her and set her aside.

For the background I used the following oxides - (starting at the bottom)  Pealed Paint, Pine Needles, Salty Ocean, Faded Jeans, Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Salty Ocean.  I found a random tree line stamp and stamped to the far right using Versa Fine black to get the crispest lines possible.

Now for the frame.  With Dallas Girl being 4" tall and needing the frame to be at least 3/4" wide... it took several layouts to find a combination of dies that would give a wide enough window to see the scene AND stay on a 6" square card base. With this one I was able to use the 'you got this GIRL' sentiment that comes with this Unity stamp set.  I put a black mat on the card base first. Next I stamped the sentiment on the frame front and then put wide foam tape on the back.  I placed the image on the card base, lined up the frame over the image, and lightly marked where it needed to be trimmed.  After trimming, I adhered the frame to the image first, then glued the framed image to the card base.

Once I had the Dallas Girl image glued in place, I used pealed paint oxide lightly at her feet to carry out the effect of the pasture. I love how this card turned out and would definitely make it again.

See you tomorrow with Card Two.

Serving a Risen Savior,

Pam

Copics Used: 

Skin E50,E51, Hair, E21, E23, E25, Shirt & Jewelry B01, B02 B05, Jeans & Hat W01-W06, B02 Boots, W06, Rope, E21, B01, B02

Products Used:

Dallas Girl ~ Part Three

I'm back again with the last card for the Unity August challenge of using one stamp kit three different ways.  I'm still using the Unity Stamps' Dallas Girl by designer Angie Blom.

This one was my 'out of my box' card.  But those of you who attend my retreats or my past workshops know I like to encourage others to do something you don't normally do.  I have to do that also, not just ask you do that.

Card Three is definitely my Stretch Card.

For this one, I started out on 140 # Water color paper.  I heat embossed the Dallas Girl and then painted her using my water color  markers (no water added).  Then I added water to the paper as I started at the bottom painting in the ground and the flag image.  After trimming and matting on black card stock, I used the Wild & Free sentiment from the Layers of Life, Soul Searching (2/19) package.  I tied heavy red twine across the left corner and secured on the back, then mounted this on a heavy card stock card and trimmed to fit my work.  The completed card is 5" square.

Thanks for following all three days  of this project. If you are a member of Unity {Show & Tell} I hope you have looked at the album and comment on mine and some of the work of the ladies. We all try so hard to come up with new ways to share their love for Unity stamps.

Serving a Risen Savior,

Pam

Holy Guacamole!

It can't be time for my 'Baby Girl' to have another birthday! 

But the wheels of time continue to turn and we know to count our blessings every day, especially the ones with our kids.

 My friend had recently received the June La-La Land Monthly Kit which had a Mexican theme.  Since my daughter has two chihuahua 's that are 'her babies',  I was thrilled when she suggested I use her kit for making my daughter's birthday card.

Here's the finished card and the info about how I made the card.

The kit is full of Mexican foods with dies, three Chihuahua's, Marcie and several sentiments.  I pulled out Marcie and two of the chihuahua's and Copic colored the dogs to match my daughter's two fur babies.  I used her favorite colors (Purple and lime green) for coloring Marcie.  

I made the background piece by die cutting a stitched scalloped rectangle, then used the Pink & Main Sunny Cover Die  to stencil the sunburst.  I also used  my (discontinued) La-La Land Happy Birthday corner die, cutting it twice (purple & lime) and splicing so it would show over the background papers.

As I put the card together, I added a couple of small foam dots behind the pup's heads to give a little dimension, added the '35' since I know this will end up in her scrapbook, and finished the card with a double organza bow.  

It was a fun card to make and she loved it (yesterday/27th) which made it even better....even if she does make me feel old!  

Thanks for stopping by today to see what's on my desk. 

Your comments are always welcome.

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam 

Products Used:

 

Dream Big Little Man

Today I would like to share with you a card I designed for a couple expecting their first baby.  

With their nursery theme for little Rory being 'Woodland Animals', I decided to invite all of them to welcome him into the world!

For this card I started with making the background with oxide inks - Pine Needles, Peeled Paint, Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade.  Next I used three birch tree dies and two stitched cloud dies to add to the background.  With all the animals Copic colored and hand cut,  I glued each one at the bottom and put a foam square at the top.  I die cut the sentiment with a Book Page die cut and added it to the top with Arrow washi tape.

It's always fun to design a unique card and especially one for a sweet little baby. Thanks for stopping by to see what I've been working on. Your comments are always welcome.

Serving a Risen Savior,

Pam 

Sending Super Big Hugs ~ National Dog Day

Happy National Dog Day!

Have you hugged your fur baby today? 

For today's card I selected with Stamping Bella's Dawn Loves Her Doggie and the sentiment TLC Blessing by Stampendous.

The image is stamped on 110 Neenah card stock and Copic colored.  I used my Tattered Lace Pearl Chain Square die, then a solid blue matting.  The card base is a 6' white square.

Thanks for stopping by today. Your comments are always welcomed.

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam 

Copics Used: Dog C0-C4, Girl:  Hair, E21, E23, E25, E27.  Shirt  & Shoes: B23, Pants: BV13, BV11, Skin: E50, E51, E53, Cheeks R30/0

Products Used: 

 

Spread Your Wings - Sketch Challenge

For one of the card site's Weekend Sketch challenge, I decided on two images from the digital package from Polka Dot Orchard's Spread Your Wings.  

This is the sketch given to inspire the challenge.

From the digital package, I pulled the hummingbird and the two flowers into Photoshop Elements and moved them close together, sized them to fit an A2 card (but put 4 images on the 8 1/2 x 11 page layout) and then printed them on Neenah 110# card stock.  After  Copic coloring (referenced below),  I die cut out the image with the Gina Marie Ric Rack Circle die.

For the dies, I cut a 2 1/3" x 5" strip for the tag and die cut a rounded top, then punched a hole in the top for the ribbon.  I die cut two coordinating Gina Marie Fish Tail Banner  dies and one lacy fish tail die for the sentiment, With Sympathy.  I layered these similar to the inspiration drawing but modified slightly turning to a portrait layout to compliment my image size.  After getting everything glued down, I added the blue organza ribbon and a few enameled dots.

Thanks for stopping by today - and don't forget to check out all the great digital images at Polka Dot Orchard's Digital store. 

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam

Copics Used:  Flower centers: E17 top to E19 bottom, Petals: E97, YR02, E93, Stems: YG93

   Hummingbird: Red R35, Body: BG34, then BG45 over, Wings: BG15, BG05, BG02, BG57, BG45

Products Used: 

A Peek Inside the Porthole

One of my swap challenge cards this month was for a 'Shaped' card.  I'm pretty standard in my A2 or square based cards, so this challenge was a stretch for me.  

But when you have this really cute new stamp, somehow you can just let your imagination run a bit and see what happens.  

When you look at the completed card below, it sure looks dull and a bit boring ~ after all ... it's a Porthole!

But you can see it's a shaker and peeking through... you can see ...

Surprise! Say Cheese!  

Isn't he just the cutest Great White Shark you've ever seen in a porthole?  He's from Spellbinders ~ Fun Stampers Journey  If you decide to make a porthole shaker card, be sure to notice on the  window of the porthole you use the acetate on both sides.

Another great Shaker card tip, especially if you are doing a circle shape,  when you are applying your foam tape, remove BOTH sides of the paper from the tape as you apply it to the card. You will be amazed how much easier you can make the curves without having to clip the tape.

Thanks for stopping by today to see what I've been working on.  Your comments are always welcomed.  

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam 

One Tall Cake Coming Up!

I love it when my Happy Mail is the perfect stamp for that night's crafting time.  Thus was the case last night when the time came to craft and I needed a couple of Girlfriend Birthday cards.

Penny Black's Tall Cake stamp had just arrived, so straight to the craft table and to the ink and paper she went.  I actually stamped her twice and freely colored each image with no particular outcome in mind.  I used my Copic Markers for coloring on both images.  On the dresses for both girls, I used the Copic "Bubble technique"

to make their polka dots on their dresses. 

The first card is for an upcoming girlfriend's  birthday.  It's completed in a pastel background, using the Gina Marie Designs Stitched Rectangle die (discontinued) and an aqua organza ribbon.  I used yellow Stickles on the candle flames.

The second version will be part of the project I'm involved in sending cards to the Soldiers Overseas for them to have to send back home to their families. These cards have to be flat without much embellishments. This image is on a Kraft card base and I used the Spellbinder Labels Eight die, a 'WISH' sentiment die and "Happy Birthday" Washi tape to  complete this card.

  

Both turned out cute, yet very different.  It's always fun to complete cards differently and see the results you get.  Penny Black stamps are very easy to use in may ways and adapt well to all kinds of backgrounds and card formats.

Thanks for stopping by today to see what I have been working on.  Your comments are always welcomed.

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam

Hope Your Day is Hunky Dory

Earlier this month I saw Meghan Kennihan's Apple Shaker Card on the Kat Scrappiness Blog as she announced the August Back to School Challenge.  What an adorable way to kick off their challenge.

It peaked my interest enough to play around with Stamping Bella's Tessie the Teacher stamp.  I wanted to alter the image a bit so I stamped and scanned it, then opened in Photoshop Elements.  This allowed me to enlarge her slightly taller and take away most of the desk area to the right.  

Then I printed her on Neenah 110 card stock and colored her with Copic markers.  I used the Craft Essential Pointed Ovals for die cutting the image and also the aqua blue pieces.  The sentiment is from the Whimsy Stamps Cheeky Sentiments.  For the finishing touches, I added a glittery world globe and a organza bow.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Your comments are always welcome.

Serving a Risen Savior,

Pam 

 

With Love and Affection

Today I wanted to share designer Jeanie Hays' (of Polka Dot Orchard) Morning Glory for the Petals from the Pittman Set Two. 

This beautiful single flower has caught the eyes of several of my friends and is becoming a favorite quickly.

One customer said, ...'There is just something about her

design of this flower that just draws me in.'  Historically the Morning Glory was referred to as the flower of Love and Affection, maybe that is what's drawing everyone's eye to Jeanie's beautiful flower. 

On today's card, I switched the background from lavender to an olive dotted swiss paper, die cut with the Spellbinder Lattice Die.  The sentiment, 'Hello Friend' is from Set One of the Petals for the Pittmans  cut with a generic double fishtail banner die.  To complete the card, I added three olive enamel dots from Gina Marie Designs and a lavender organza bow.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog and comment. 

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam 

There's Always Room For Ice Cream`

I seriously think the cute little saying about Ice Cream should be one taught to everyone in kindergarten.  If you think about 

how many yummy flavors there are of Ice Cream and no matter how full you are... 

There is always room for Ice Cream

as it just melts and fills in all the empty spaces!

Stamping Bella's Harper Goes Head First for Ice Cream is the perfect image to send a bowl of get well cheer or just a happy note to brighten someone's day! 

After stamping on Neenah 110# card stock, I colored the image with Copic markers.  I used my Tattered Lace Lacy Squares dies for both the image and the beautiful polka dot background papers, and my fishtail die for the sentiment.    I also cut additional olive mats to go behind the image and the sentiment tag.  Like with a lot of Stamping Bella images, Harper is quite large, which led to putting this image together on a 6 " square card base.  

I love how this has turned out to be a such a happy card, no matter what the occasion.  Thanks for stopping by today also.  Your comments are always welcomed. 

Serving a Risen Savior,

Pam 

Let's Be Mermaids!

It's Hot, Hot, Hot!  August in South Carolina with it's daily temperatures well in the upper 90's and the heat index over 100...probably not your first choice of places to be! However, we do have the BEST coastal beaches and several pretty nice lakes! 

So when the weekend challenge popped up for "What do you think about when it's SO HOT?", my mind went to the beach!  Since part of my recent happy mail included Whimsy Stamps Mermaid Dreams, I decided to use that for my card entry.  

To make this card, I had a background of oxide inks I'd previously made using Wilted Violet, Mermaid Lagoon, and Peacock Feathers.  I used Whimsy Stamps Kinetic Straight Waves Die set and cut my 5 x 7 paper into three strips.  On my A2 card base I stenciled a few clouds at the top then added the waves, gluing only at the bottom of the middle and bottom wave.  

Of course you can play around with the placement of the Mermaid tails, then glue the end and add a foam dot to the top fin to raise it up a little.  I used Copic E21, E13 and E42 to color in the sand and also to color each of the shells that are part of the Straight Waves set.  The sentiment I used is from the Mermaid's Tail, by Ellen Hutson.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Your comments are always welcomed.

Serving a Risen Savior,

Pam 

Vintage Sewing Theme Book Marker ~ It's A Winner!

Several weeks ago, Unity Stamps issued a Mini Challenge to 'Make it Tiny' ~ create something smaller, non traditional using their stamps.  I took their challenge and began creating a vintage themed sewing book marker for my friend Bonnie's birthday card. 

Here is the completed tag and my submission.

For this I used the lace from KOM 12/12, Everyday Fairytale,  the dress form from SMAK 3/18, Normal is Boring, and the spools of thread from the Itty Bitty, By a Thread.

I was really pleased with the way it turned out and it received lots of nice comments on the posting.  However, I was totally surprised when one of my online friends messaged me to tell me it had WON!

Totally awesome but I had to keep it a secret!  Ha!  Bonnie's birthday was still over a week away.  In the meantime, I had decided the book marker needed just a little tweaking to really be useful.  While the buttons added depth, they needed to be replaced with flat paper die cut buttons out of various scraps of patterned papers.   I also wanted to add more color.

At the top, I tied a string knotted bow to secure the lace, and added the Happy Birthday tag (which was not a Unity product). 

I knew Bonnie would like a few of my handmade cards, so I selected several and made a 6 x 8 box out of heavyweight card stock.  Before folding the top, I cut a piece of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper to the same measurements as the top of the box and glued it to the top.  I added a strip of decorative burlap, a couple of sewing hat pins and sewing flip magnets to a crocheted doily on top of the box.  With the cards and the book marker inside, the box made a nice presentation.

It's always nice to have several gift tags prepared ahead to add to a bag.  This tag is from Whimsy Stamps, Bee-Happy

This was a fun gift to prepare and I know my friend was pleased.  It's good to try the challenges that make us think outside our normal bounds.  Think about what you could make that is a different size next time you sit down to your crafting table.

Thanks for stopping by to see what's on my table.  Your comments are always welcomed.

Serving a Risen Savior, 

Pam 

Sweet Bentley

Today's featured card is a fluffy, cloud filled card 
with Stamping Bella's Bentley flying by.

This is one that I selected my plaid paper first, then color coordinated my Copic markers to color match the plaid.  After coloring, I stenciled in the clouds using Quick Quotes, Blue Jeans Chalking Ink and a stencil I made using several cloud dies.   I used Penny Black's Elegant Stitching die for both the image and the matting which really adds a soft touch and completes the design. 

Thanks for stopping by today. Your comments are always welcomed.

Serving a Risen Savior, 
Pam 

Copics Used: Hair: Y06, Y21, Y42, E13  Dress: RV52,  RV63, Balloons, G05, BG53 

It's Your Day!

If you had to stop and think for a minute, when asked ~ Who in your group of friends is the most dependable, the one who everybody goes to for help, the one you can always count on .... you know .... the one you call the GLUE that holds EVERY ONE TOGETHER! 

The birthday girl today  ~ Martha~ has got to be the GLUE for not just her family and closest friends but for our church family, a huge part of the school and many other organizations around town.  She is one amazing woman and dedicated friend to all.  

So for you my friend ~ Penny Black's It's Your Day!

This cute image was stamped on Neenah 110 card stock and colored with Copic markers.  I used Gina Marie Designs Wonky Stitched Square die around the image.  I used Versa Fine Ink to stamp the Happy Birthday to you on top of the colored cake and then added glossy accents to the candle flames and the bear's nose before setting it aside to dry.  

Then I modified the Simon Says Scalloped Stitched to get the narrow strips.  The polka dot background was die cut with Tattered Lace Lacey Squares. I assembled all of the pieces on to a 5 1/2 card base, added the peach enameled dots on the bottom left corner and the organza double bow and stamped my personal sentiment inside for my very special friend.  

All ready for hand delivery!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  As always your comments are welcomed. 

Serving a Risen Savior

Pam