Freshly Made Sketches Encouragement Card

I found a little time between trips to do a few challenges.  The card today is for a friend battling breast cancer.  She is an online card making friend I have known for so many years but never met in person.

I saw this sketch at Freshly Made Sketches for their weekly challenge and decided it would be a fun one to use for my card.

This is my card for the sketch challenge.  The background is a piece of die cut watercolor paper.  The rectangles that the flower is stamped on are also die cut.  I used three different Tattered Angels sprays to color the background and the flower background.  

The flower stamp is from Stampers Anonymous Studio 490 Wendy Vecchi Stamp it Stencil it.  The sentiment is from Stampendous stamped in Black Versafine Ink.

Thanks for stopping by.

Coffee/Friendship ATC

Today I am sharing an ATC I made where the theme was "Meet Me At the Coffee Shop".  I had just bought this fun stamp so that is what I used.  I did lots of layers on this card with paint and then embossing the sentiment with brown embossing powder.  A little more paint distresses around the sentiment.

The stamp is by Stampendous.

I am entering this ATC in the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.

Christmas Cards and Oldie Moldie Monday

It is Monday again - time to show some love to your old supplies.

The current challenge on Jingle Belles is Frosty the Snowman.  I was looking for a stamp and on the shelf was the snowman that I used on my card.  The snowman has such a cute personality and today it is a girl snowman because she is all dressed up in her pink scarf and hat and is wearing some bling on her finger tips.

The paper is random pieces from different collections that I gathered together to use.  I did see a date of 2008 on one of the pieces.  The stamp is from Stampendous and is colored with Copics.  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches.  The felt snowflakes are from my supplies.  I added some extra bling and Stickles to finish off the card.

I did add some blue chalking around the image so that the white paper which the image was stamped on was not so WHITE.  Sometimes this distracts me from the card so have tried to find a way to add just a small amount of soft color.  What do you do for this.

I did make four cards so I am a happy Christmas card camper.

Have a Plan

The challenge on the Monday challenge blog for Simon Says Stamp is to "have a plan."

My plan for now is to start sending encouragement cards to people who are struggling.  This last week I sent one to a sister in law of one of my Ya Ya's who is slowly loosing her battle with cancer.  I have know Diane for many years because her children went to the same schools my girls did and they were all in the same 4H.  Another card went to a fellow card maker friend who is finally returning home have a long tour in the hospital.

This card I am sharing is for the next time I need to send a word of encouragement.

I kinda lifted this design from a card I saw a long time ago somewhere.  I know my fox is not the same one on the card I saw.  I did some coloring with gelatos to complete the card.

The fox is from Stampendous and the Hello is from Hero Arts.

Maybe with retirement I will be able to do this more often.  I hope so.  I always hope my cards make people smile when they receive them.

Monthly Faber-Castell Challenge

It is that time of the month when Mou posts her monthly challenge on the Faber-Castell blog.  Thc challenge this month is January: the first month of the year! A time of making new resolutions, fresh starts, starting again. It's the time of new beginnings. Your challenge this month is to create anything to celebrate new beginnings. 

This is a 5 x 7 canvas board.  It is a gift for a young lady in her 20's who has ventured forth to live her dream.  I know that she can do it but she sometimes battles her demons and they try to break her wonderful spirit.  One of the demons right now is also cancer.

The canvas represents being positive.  You have two choices - glass is half full or half empty - choose the positive one - choose the sunshine not the rain.  Although that monkey looks pretty happy in the rain.  Must be the snazzy little slicker and boots she is wearing.

Why a monkey - she loves monkeys.  Why a huge orange sun - aren't suns yellow - well orange is her favorite color.

I covered the canvas with gesso.  I just plopped some gesso on the board and then I took a paper towel and blobbed it around the canvas so I got some different texture - not the normal paint brush nothingness.  I then colored the gesso with gelatos.  I scribbled them on and then smeared them with my hands and some water.  The monkey was stamped on a gessoed piece of a book page and colored with different mediums.  He was glued to the canvas with gel medium.  The sun was a combination of different mediums to achieve the color I wanted.  I stamped the sentiment.  I added the little flowers last because I thought that added to the sunshine.  I used the Glass Bead Glitter Gel on the sun and also on parts of the monkey.  I added some texture with Whipped Spackle and a stencil.

I finished the canvas off with one of the Big Brush Pens around the edge (bright pink) and softening the edges with my fingers.

I know it will maker my friend smile and hopefully it will help her stay positive in this next big adventure called life.

Birthday Card for Child Struggling With Cancer

Cancer sucks but it sucks even more when it is a child.  They have not even had a chance to live their life to any extent.  When I see a legitimate request for a card fighting cancer, I want to try and help.  On Facebook I saw the story of Danny.  I wanted to make him a card to make him smile.

When I want to make someone smile, I dig out my monkeys from Stampendous.  Guaranteed smiles from these dudes.  I used the weekly sketch from Sketch Saturday.

I used papers from American Crafts.  The sentiment is a sticker from SRM Stickers.  The bubbles have Stickles on them and then a layer of Glossy Accents.

I hope you are able to send Danny a birthday card.  If you can't make it for his birthday - just send one anyway.  Just say hello.  Here is his address.

Danny Nickerson
P.O. Box 212
Foxboro, MA 02035 

Oldie Moldie Monday

Only one card to share today for oldie Moldie Monday.  Same paper pad as last week.  The monkey is by Stampendous.  The sentiment is by Paper Smooches.  My die cut slipped when I was cutting out the sentiment and I was tossing it and then I remembered - slide it under something and it will work.  Sentiment saved.  Card made.  Another card to go into my Operation Write Home box.

Off to plant some plants in the flower bed.  Been busy getting caught up on work outside.

Enjoy your Memorial Day.

More Watercolor

Here is another card I made in my watercolor class.  These lessons were on stamping with watercolor.  I mixed some distress ink with water and painted it on my stamp - and stamped away.  I did a couple stampings of this.  I like how it turned out.  Very soft colors.  I decided to stamp my sentiment in grey so it was softer in color.  I luckily had these dots that matched and shimmered a little and add the finishing touch to the card.

The flower is by Stampendous and the sentiment is by Penny Black.

Graduation and SRM Challenge

One of my favorite products - SRM Stickers - has started a challenge blog.  I am just sliding in under the deadline.  I am trying to get back in the mode of making cards.  Their first challenge is Celebrations.

Graduating from college with your master's degree is one reason to celebrate.  This card is for my graduate assistant.  In honor of Earth Day - all the paper used is from recycled commencement programs.  I was so happy when they switched from the purple covers to white covers - so much more versatile for making card bases.  I combined several stickers from SRM Stickers along with a stamped sentiment from Stampendous.  I was lucky to have these purple toned pearls sent to me by my good friend Ivanka.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.  I guess it is time to start thinking about work tomorrow and getting things together.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Once again it is Monday, time to show some love to your old supplies.  I wanted to make a boy card today so I found a 6 x 6 pad from Echo Park - A Boy's Life.  It has a date of 2011 on it.

The first card is for a little boy in my hometown who is battling cancer.  I am trying to send him a card every month.  My monkey stamps are guaranteed smile makers.  Thank you Stampendous for your great monkey stamps.  I used a sketch from Just Add Ink.

Here is my take on the sketch.  I did add a half circle in the upper left corner - I thought I needed a little red to balance off the card.The banner and flag were cut with my Silhouette.

Since I had another monkey stamped and colored, I wanted to make a card for my Operation Write Home Box.  I used the challenge from the Paper Players - Clean and Simple with Washi Tape.

I put my washi tape on a piece of white card stock.  I then embossed the cardstock so I know that washi tape will stay stuck on the card.  I added a Paper Smooches sentiment. I covered the sentiment mat with the red washi tape so it would match.  I know that some child will love getting this card from their parent who is serving overseas.

Remember to show some love to your old paper and supplies.  They still make great cards.

Cards for two Little Boys

Recently on Facebook they were sharing a post about a little boy in Michigan who said he had no friends.  He fights Asperger's Syndrome.  He did not want a birthday party because no one would come.  The world has come together to show Colin, he does indeed have many people who care about him.  This is my birthday card for him.  

I am entering this in the weekly challenge at Just Add Ink.  Their challenge this week is to "Just Add Stripes." I loved the colors in this paper from Authentique.  The monkey stamp is from Stampendous.  I hope it makes Colin smile.  If you wish to send him a card his address is Colin, PO Box 756, Richland, MI  49083

My second card using the same image is for a little boy in my home town who is battling cancer.  I am going to try and send him a card each month.  I just used a general Hello sentiment for his card.  I did not realize that both their names were Colin.  This card is for Colin Cahill, 819 Chapman St, Milton, WI  53563

I think it is important to give back to our communities, to people who are battling diseases and to show people we care.  I am so glad I have my card making talents so I can make people smile.  

Thanks for stopping by.  

More Iguana Love

Another card for my next Operation Write Home box.  Who wouldn't be happy to get this card?

Happy Friday.

Sketch Saturday

I found a new sketch site - Sketch Saturday - it was a fun sketch.  I made a rectangle card instead of a square.  The image was already colored in my huge box of images.

I would upload the sketch for you but blogger is taking forever to upload for me - so no sketch for you to see - pop over to their site and check them out.

Not much to say - it is cold and I am getting sick of it.  Everyone have a good day.

Day 7 - What is on your design table?

I found this cute image on my table all colored.  The patterned papers were three loose sheets that seemed to coordinate pretty well.  The matting for the image came out of my scrap box.

This will go in my next Operation Write Home box.

Enjoy your Sunday - I am off to work today.  I will accomplish so much when no one is in.

What's On Your Design Table - Day 3

I know it is Thursday but Blogger has not let me upload anything the last few days so this is Tuesday and Wednesday cards or maybe Monday - I don't remember.

The images were all on my table all colored.  The pretty plaid paper was there also.  It was double sided so that helps in creating a card.  The die cut sentiments were also on the design table. I like how the cards turned out.  Thankfully I also had an embossing folder on the table.  You may get tired of seeing this embossing folder after awhile.

These cards will go in my next Operation Write Home Box.

Owl Send You A Christmas Card

Isn't this the sweetest little owl stamp?  The stamp is by Stampendous.  It is colored with Copics.  I chalked the background so it was not so "stark white" - now there is a tint of blue in all the open space.  Some crystal lacquer was added to the owl's eyes and to the bulbs on the tree.  The sentiment is from SRM Stickers and the paper is from Studio Calico.

I am going to enter this in the challenge on Simon Says Stamp blog "to use a stamp".  

Well now to get some more things done.  Probably run errands.  We are supposed to have freezing rain tonight so I am sure travel will be a little limited tomorrow morning.

Oldie Moldie Monday Returns

I did miss posting a card last week on Monday.  I do have a good excuse though - I was in Alaska visiting my youngest daughter.  I had a wonderful visit and saw so many things.  She was an excellent tour guide - I do see why they like it there.

I came home and went to Michael's and bought this new stamp.  It is a new stamp for 2013 from Stampendous.  How cute are those little penguins?  I am not making any Christmas cards for Operation Write Home but am just doing general winter cards.  Been occupied with my trip and redecorating so haven't had as much time for making cards.  This is some old paper I have sitting around - trying to use some of it up.  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches.

Enjoy your day - tomorrow - reality - back to work.

Oldie Moldie Monday

I have been playing with this group of papers from Jillibean Soup.  I have made 6 of this particular design or something very similar in design.  I have four that will go in my next Operation Write Home Box.

Oh, and my granddog Axel, says the card was very tasty.

Remember to show some love for your old paper and supplies.

More Easter Cards

I wanted to share a couple more Easter cards that I made.  The top stamp is from Whipper Snapper Designs and the bottom image is Riley the Moose.  I believe the sentiment is from Stampendous.  Can you tell I really liked the jelly bean paper from Doodlebug.  Once again I chalked around my stamped images so the white was not glaring at you.

Enjoy your Thursday.

More OWH Cards

A couple more cards with paper out of the scrap bag from 2012.  The bottom card is the first card for Operation Write Home for the year 2013.

Trying to make some cards for little girls since I made 5 robot cards earlier in the week.  The bunny card could be for Easter but it could also just be for general use also.  The bunny is a Studio G stamp which I bought for a $1 - I have got my money out of that stamp.  The bottom card - the Fluffles stamp is from Stampendous.  The top sentiment is Studio G and the "big hugs" is a Hero Arts stamp - a favorite sentiment for my OWH stamps.

Back to work today.  At least it is only a 3 day work week.