Don't Throw Your Flubs Away

     I just salvaged a card front that I didn't like.  I made a background that I liked but the gold sentiment I stamped on it was crooked and ruined the card front.  I was going to throw it away but then I saw a sketch that used multiple sizes of circles.

Sketch #250 from Operation Write Home.

     I was inspired to die cut several circles from the nice part of the background.

Sentiment is from Hampton Arts Ki Memories Greeting

     I dry embossed lines every inch along the front of the card and the sentiment fit pretty nicely between the lines.  I'm not happy that the ribbon shows the circle shape underneath it.  Other than that I really like the card.

     I think there is a lesson to be learned here: salvage what you can when you mess up a card front whether it is just a terrible smudge or an idea that didn't work out.  Die cut what ever shapes you can from the salvageable parts and use them in a new way.

Bedtime Alligator

     I just love this little Alligator (according to the artist it is a crocodile, but it looks like an alligator from the side to me).  I also love coloring him with Copic markers.  It is such a fun image. I turned the teddy bear into corduroy with a Copic technique that I learned in the Online Card Classes Copics for Card Makers class..  I love that effect also.

Baby Crocodile by Beccy's Place 

     I made 6 of these cards so I could have one for my Grandnephew (I changed the sentiment to Get Well Soon because he is having outpatient surgery).  The other five are for Operation Write Home.    I've been hoarding this awesome designer paper with the raised alligator type skin for just this image.

Stamped Acrylic Block Technique

         Splitcoaststampers had a "Try a New Technique" challenge last week and they featured the Stamped Acrylic Block technique.  If you are unable to access the tutorial, you will need to get a free membership to the website.  It is worth the effort just for the tutorials.  I ended up loving this technique.

Papertrey Ink Mum's the Word

     Actually the technique isn't new and I tried it a few years ago with regular ink.  Distress Inks sprayed with water make a nice effect don't you think?  You can do multiple colors on each background too but I think it works better with re-inkers, which I don't have.  I tried it with my mini-distress inks and it came out as blocks of color which was okay, but not what I was going for.
     I tend to obsess over everything I like and I could easily play with this technique for days.  Hopefully no more than a few days though because there are challenges I would like to participate in.

WPlus9 Winter Woodland

     These are my favorite two cards so far.  I made another one that I didn't like as much so I'm not bothering to post it.  It is still a nice card and I think all three will be going to Operation Write Home.
      My donation box for Operation Write Home is almost filled!  It is huge.  I can't wait to ship it.  It makes me so happy to know that the Troops overseas have free lovely cards to encourage them to write to their loved ones.  Their family and friends cherish the lovingly made cards.

Day 2 Of I Treasure You Virtual Stamp Night at Splitcoast Stampers

     This particular challenge on Splitcoaststamper's Virtual Stamp Night asked us to make a card using a map, and extra points would be given if it was a Pirates Treasure Map.

     I had the perfect set of stickers for this card from the Dollar Tree and a sheet of paper with a map motif I purchased eons ago from a dollar store.
     After I posted my card, someone commented that they thought is seemed like the circle with the map in it was what the pirate saw when looking through his "Spyglass".  I hadn't planned it that way but I like looking at it that way now.  By the way, we don't really get points, it's just an expression about how happy the hostess is if you follow more specific instructions then everyone might be capable of.
     I named this card Special Birthday Treasure.  Surprisingly the only stamping I did was on the inside which was a birthday greeting.

     The instructions for the next challenge was to make a card that showcased a memory.

Joys Life Barnyard Puns

Inside sentiment from Barnyard Puns says It's Past-ure Birthday

     My brothers and I would visit our Great Uncles Farm every Saturday during the summer when we were growing up.  Our favorite thing to do was to climb into the hay loft, then jump into the very high loose straw on the ground level just below.  The mice would scurry the first time someone jumped but stayed away after that.  It was probably dangerous but we never got hurt and had a lot of fun.  I made this card to go with that memory and I call it Barn Raising Memories.  

     We were next challenged to create an Easter Card and if we could manage to place an Easter Egg on it we would get extra points.  

Joy's Life Barnyard Puns

    

      I had a plain blue egg shaped die cut that I added washi tape to in order to make it look like an Easter Egg.  I experiemented for the first time with a stencil and distress ink (boy should I practice-not a good first attempt) and I really loved the shape of the stencil for the Easter theme.  I call this Easter People.

     The next challenge of Virtual Stamp Night had us use a front door on a card and extra points would be give if we put a welcome sign on it.  

Fiskars All Year Greetings

   
     I had nothing to use for this and had to find clip art.  I love this clip art though and feel as if this should be the front door to my front door if you know what I mean.  It's called My Ideal Welcome Door.


 
      For our next challenge we were asked to use spring flowering bulbs, and if we could use tulips we got extra points.

Fiskars All Year Greetings 

      

     I kept this card simple with large block silver heat embossed letters and a tulip sticker.  I call it Simply Love.

Splitcoast Stampers Virtual Stamp Night I Treasure You

     Here are some cards I made for the Virtual Stamp Night over at Splitcoaststampers.com. The theme was I TREASURE YOU.  The first challenge was titled TREASURED HOSTESS.  I cased (used another person's card for inspiration) a card from the suggested gallery and this is what I came up with.  I don't think I am allowed to post her card though.  I am calling it "LOVE YOU BUNCHES OF BANANAS".

Mama Elephant Basic Borders
WPlus9 Winter Woodlands
Fiskars All Year Greetings

     The second challenge was titled SCAVENGER HUNT.  There were so many requirements for this card that it stifled my creativity.  I don't really like this card that much but I managed to meet all the requirements of the challenge: Distressed neutral layer, metal embellishment, soft item like a ribbon, stamped image of something found on an island, dry embossed colored layer, AND doodling.  I don't like my doodling, distressing or forcing the stamped image to go with the card, BUT here it is and it is called BEACH DRAGONFLY:

Inkadinkado Sand Dollar

     The next challenge was called TREASURED FURRY FRIENDS.  This was very easy for me and came together quickly with the supplies I had on hand.  The dog image was already colored and cut out, I had the perfect sentiment and the frame was already die cut.  I just added some low profile adhesive metal gems and it was done.  I call it THINKING DOG.

Lawn Fawn Critters in the 'burbs

Cloud 9 Designs Simple Thoughts-Dog