A little stress with the distressed inks - CAS day 5

I always loved watercolors...

This online class is my kind of school. I've only finnished my fifth class and I am loving taking it in at my own pace. Class five there happened to be lots of different info and a video by Jennifer McGuire. She demonstrated how to use watercolors with a blocking technique. Loved all that I saw but didn't own any of the things I saw. I was willing to go buy the stuff but my good friend offered to share her "goodies" with me!!! This worked out so well because she re-taught me how to get the hang of this. I used the Distress Inks in Wild Honey, Peeled Paint, and Faded Jeans and stamped on to watercolor paper. The embossed stamps were WPlus9 medallions and the sentiment from the same set.  I stamped the sentiment on white card stock, used a square punch on the one end (just like we learned!) to make it look so nice, popped it up off the card, and added the bling to match the watercolors.


I really liked this type of card and can't wait to try it again. I'll have to sneak in to my girlfriend's basement while she is at work.... LOL


Thank you for all your help!


BUT WAIT --- there's more...


I have also decided to enter this card in a challenge. It has to follow this sketch for the Young Crafters Unite challenge.  I happened upon YOUNG CRAFTERS UNITE! while jumping around everyone's blogs. It is a cool blog, I love the style of their challenges, and Simon says Stamp sponsors their challenges.  It's ALL good. :-)
Wish me luck!                

Playing in "Our Creative Corner"

Our Creative Corner is having a sketch challenge and so I thought I'd give it a whirl. It's a Hip to Be Square Sketch Challenge.

This is sketch that they give you to work with...

and this is what I came up with...

I took most of the day making this card. I happened to run into this on OCCC and I loved the challenge of it and how it all came together. I can't wait to get it in the mail to my daughter. I took a few pictures and they all came out shinny even though the paper is very flat...hmmm. Not sure why it looks so glossy, I am kinda bummed cause it takes away from the prettiness of the card. Oh well, if any one knows what I am doing wrong and wants to share, please do so. I took pictures with the flash on and off and it still happened. This card just wants to shine! haha

I was also over at  SimonSaysStamp and they have a "Patterned Paper Challenge" and I thought this is right up my card's ally. So I am entering this card in two challenges! First time for everything.

Stampin' Up - Hearts and Posies
Fiskars - Thank You clear stamps
Paper - Brazzill - Parakeet
Paper - Colobok - Daddy Day
EK - Scallop Trim
EK - 1" Circle
EK - 1 1/4" Oval
Ink - Stamp' Up Rich Razzle Berry

Beer goggles... CAS 2&3

I must of had beer goggles on last night when I finished these cards. I thought it was some of my best work. Haha. I am in this card making class, CAS online class,  and it is really showing me things I did not know or didn't fully understand how to go about doing. I was on a roll making cards that I saw in class. Making them until they looked just right. I was so proud of my work. Even my husband said he thought I was getting better. He must have been wearing the goggles too. Okay, so I had a glass or two of wine. Wine goggles? But I think the most important thing is that I am learning some new things, getting great ideas, recognizing that I need to slow down (one card took me four attempts), and don't drink and ink!

                Look at these guys, I mean cards, don't they look good late at night?

But then when you look closely in the morning light...ouchy. But, again, I am learning and having fun. ((I swear they looked sooo good last night!))

I like the idea of the monochromatic stamping. I think I need to venture past the same color, just varying shades. I love what Cristina did in her example of her tree on her blog that we were invited to go see.... someday, someday I'll figure this all out.

This was trying for that triangle look. I think I need some bigger stamps, haha.

And not to be forgotten at the barstool was this flat owl. Man he was looking so hot last night. Three layers of card stock, he barely got out the door in one piece! The picture doesn't do him justice - I swear. I love this process and I will be doing this again with flowers.

And I would like to introduce you to his twin, his better half...

I couldn't waste the negative. What did you say? That wasn't the only thing that was wasted last night? Trust me, none of these cards take a good picture... they are nice looking when you get to know them!

I want to send Valentine's cards to my kids!

I think I want to make more of this card. I saw this type of card on day 1 of my class on CAS with Kristina and I am enjoying the class so far! I think I am ready for day two. Here I come  CAS online class.

Back to school... CAS 1

I am taking a CAS online class and I just started today. This is my first card and I felt it was a little rough around the edges, so I rounded them out and I think that was a mistake. Haha This card was supposed to be easy but I found it to be difficult. I have always had a hard time with things being exact. I think I will have to revisit this idea because I love how other people's cards came out. I used a very old SU stamp and SU soft suede stamp pad.

Missing YOU!

RUNWAY INSPIRED CHALLENGE

(and that was a challenge just to do that!)

source:  vogue.com

I am so excited I didn't miss this Runway Inspired Challenge. Trying to get all these colors on to one card is a challenge all on it's own. I used the Stampin Up Pennant Parade stamps and the SU punch. Than, for the 'missing piece' and the 'YOU", I used pink embossing powder to match the bling in the middle of the circle of triangles.  I also made the pink triangle a different embossed pattern than the rest... because different is good! After all, that is why we love making these cards so much.

2012 At last!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!