Here's Looking at You, Dad

CARDZ TV Challenge #110: “I'm so glad, you're my Dad!" 

Make a card for Father's Day using any cartridge(s) and using any colors you’d like.

 Although decidedly NOT dog people while I was growing up, my love of my dogs has certainly rubbed off on my parents during my adult life.  How can they not love my furbabies?  After all, they are their human grandma and grandpa!

I loved the way this silhouette image appeared to be looking at something, why not a picture of my dad through an open frame.  Very simple and easy to put together with a nice effect.  Designed and cut on my Gypsy.

"A Child's Year" and "Art Philosophy" carts.

Bazzill Basics and K&Co. cardstock.

Distress Ink in Wild Honey.

Photo of my dad, age 71.

2012 Rose Festival Junior Parade ft. ANDREW!

AJ is a beginning trumpet player and this was his first time in marching band.

(Click through to YouTube for larger video.)

Mini Easel Cards - Halloween Style

What can I say?  I love Halloween!  And this June-uary, what with all the gray skies and rain (yes, in Oregon we've had as much rain by June as we usually get in an entire year) my thoughts turn to my favorite crafting time of year - Halloween!


I created these mini easel cards that measure 3.75" square.  You do need a larger envelope and possibly extra postage to mail them - I know because I've had them returned to me by the USPS already! 

I am absolutely in love with this new MS punch set "Cherish."  That's the tool that made the mini marquees.  And of course I wanted to do some coloring with my Spectrum Noir markers so I was on the lookout for line art stamps.  I hope you enjoy a bit of an October preview in June!

Papers:  Bazzill Basics, K&Co., Crafter's Companion, my stash.
Inks:  Distress Inks, Shabby Shutters, Wild Honey, Concord; Memento, Tuxedo Black.
Pens:  Spectrum Noir, Sakura glitter gel
Punch:  MS, Cherish
Stamps: Fiskars, A Muse Artstamps, Impress, My Creative time
Embellishments:  my stash.

Spectrum Noir Color Confidence (series)

If you came here from my YouTube channel looking for Spectrum Noir color charts and other resources, you've come to the right place!

Download the blank SN color chart from the Crafter's Companion website, or visit the .pdf file here.

To save time when coloring a project, I created color tags with the numbers of the blended colors on them.  This way I can easily find the colors in various color groups that blend well for that just-right color I'm looking for.  This saves a lot of time, and helps me avoid some of the combos that don't blend as well as others.

Example of the tags I made in several color ways. Several (brick, dress) are from the CC video ft. Lee Ann Chivers.  Others (lemon) are my own ideas.

CG1 actually works like a blender pen with the CG4 although they are in the same color group.

When there are fewer pens in the color group, its best to blend with as many colors as possible for the best finish.  There are only 4 Citrus Green pens.

There are 11 pens in the Coral range and I found they all blended wonderfully.  You could even skip some colors in order to get a richer, deeper color, but opening up fewer pens.

Here are some of my favorite color combos.

(Sorry for the gray-scale - I'm still learning photography tips and tricks to get the most accurate color.)

I'm still 24 pens shy of the total 168 that are available.  I'm missing the "Darks" set.  But if you'll notice, I use shades of gray to increase the color's intensity.

For a complete look at gaining color confidence with the Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, check out my videos.

Videos:  Color Confidence Series

 

 Spectrum Noir, Color Confidence pt 1

2012 Shamrock Run Results

It was early.  It was grey.  It was drizzly.  It was cold. 

It was GREAT!  Check out Shamrock Run 2012, Portland, Oregon.

Click through to YouTube to watch in a larger format.  Pictures were from JP's iPhone, so the quality is what it is.  Thanks to my wonderful husband for sticking around for the entire production!

Here're my stats in a nutshell:
8K = 4.97 mi.
Total Time:  41:37 min
Per Mile Time:  8:23 min
Overall Average Women's Time:  50:22
Total 8K Runners:  6442
Women 8K Runners:  3921
Men 8K Runners:  2521
Total Women 40-44: 547
My Place in Division:  33
Percent in Division:  Top 6%
My Place in All Women 8K: 310
Percent of All Women:  Top 8%
My Place Overall (Age, Women & Men):  929
My Percent Overall (Age, Women & Men): 14%

Watch out Race for the Roses!  You're next!

Thanks for checking in.  Feel free to post a comment!

Pink Princess Gatefold Pocket Tag Mini

Mini album with belly band,

Album is for, and about, my niece Sylvia.

This mini used LOTS of scraps and embellishments I've had for years.  Very cool.

This last tag was the reason I decided to call it "Pink Princess..."

Watch the short video for a closer look.

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Thanks for stopping by my blog.  You can check out more projects on my YouTube channel.

Distressed B-Day Card with Lace

My mom turns 68 this week!  I created this card with vintage in mind, but could not find the photo of her that I thought I had when she was very little.  So I had some fun putting this one together instead.

Shaped card, frame, and all cuts from Art Philosophy cart. Stamps from CTMH "Celebration" set. Paper Bazzill Basics. Ribbon, lace, and embroidery floss, various.  Sizzix TH embossing folder. Spray & Sparkle in gold from Crafter's Companion (great stuff!).  Momento black ink.  Distress Inks in Vintage Photo, Milled Lavendar,  and Spun Sugar.

Challenges

Stamp TV:  Mix It Up Monday - DISTRESSING - STV12MON5  Distress a card and include some form of a Tag.

 FCCB:  #99 – Fancy Trims   Use fabric, lace or other trims on your project  

I love how the CTMH stamps and cuts from Art Philosophy work together!

Edges are roughed up and inked - truly distressed.

All that sparkle comes from Crafter's Companion's gold Spray & Sparkle.  Cool stuff!

I also had the opportunity to try out some glass etching - a first for me.  So simple!  Again I used the Art Philosophy cart.  The glass block frame already had the "R" monogram on it.  I simply added the scroll corners. 

I used Armor Etch for the scrolls.

Tough to photograph, but here's the finished product.  Frame was a steal from Home Goods.

Original photo.  Great smile Mom!

 

 Thanks for checking out these projects on my blog.  I read and appreciate all comments!