Pet Sympathy

This was made for someone that recently lost their beloved dog.  I used a photo of their pet to try to color it as much like them as possible. I was told they really loved the card, so I am happy I could help them out during a difficult time.  The image is by Mo Manning.  The sentiment is an unmounted stamp (company unknown).

Birthday Boy

This card was made at the request of a co-worker for a grandson who will be celebrating a birthday soon.  The digital image is by Mo Manning.  I kept it simple so that the image was the focus!

Some more One Layer cards

A few weeks ago, I created another flurry of one layer cards.  I tried some different color combinations and layouts, so some of them are a bit different.  You will have to excuse the "wonky" cards...I neglected to press them flat before taking photos, so they are a bit curled over in some of the photos!

 

I doodled a border around the central image on this one.  Sentiment by Wordsworth.

 

 

I had done one similar to this a while ago.  Tree, bird and sentiment stamps from Wordsworth.

 

 

I tried something really different on this one.  I had not used browns before without adding other colors.  I think it turned out pretty nice.  Might make a good masculine card. Images by Penny Black.

 

 

I decided to try blues and grays on this one and I love the way it turned out.  The image got a bit heavy-handed, but I think it works.  Sentiment by Hero Arts.

 

 

I wanted a mono-chromatic look on this one.  The flower is by Penny Black and the sentiment is by Wordsworth.

 

 

I loved the blue and gray combo, so I had to try another one.  This one I accentuated the image by scoring at the top and bottom.  I really like how that brings the focus to the image.  Sentiment by Wordsworth.

 

 

The last one is a holiday-inspired one using reds and then adding the green directly to the stamp before adding it to the background.  I really love this one.  I think I might try adding a little glitter or something to the berries to give them some sparkle.  Definitely going to experiment with this one!

 

Happy Birthday to my Brother

Okay...so my brother's birthday was back in October...forgot that I never posted this one!  I absolutely love the way this one turned out.  I once again used watercolors instead of my Copic markers.  He has always been a fan of the Indiana Jones movies and loves books about exploration, so I couldn't resist using this adorable image from Mo Manning.  It was perfect and he loved it!

A Changito Christmas

I had the urge to get out my Changito Winter set and this is what I came up with.  I just love this crazy monkey!  I think I may have to do a variation for some of my Christmas cards this year....

Birthday Girl

The daughter of one of my former co-workers had a birthday a few weeks ago and I made this card for her.  I wanted something really girly and sweet.  This image from Mo Manning was perfect!  I kept it super simple and let the image shine.

Happy Birthday to my Grandmother

My dear grandmother just celebrated her birthday and I knew I had to use this fun digital image from A Day For Daisies.  It reminds me of when I was younger (and people used the clothesline to dry their clothes).  I love the way they always smell so fresh and clean.  Wish I had a way to do that where I live in the warmer months.  This time, I used watercolors instead of my Copic markers to color the image.  I wanted something really soft.  I love the way it turned out.

SCUBA Birthday

I made this card for a former co-worker that recently celebrated his birthday.  I just love this Changito fella from Stampendous.  The sentiment that goes with it (on the inside) reads "Super Creative Unexpected Birthday Acknowledgement."  S.C.U.B.A....get it? 

Breast Cancer Awareness

I know I am VERY behind in posting my creations, so you can expect a daily post for several days!  I have been making quite a few cards lately, but they just haven't found their way here.  The two cards I am sharing with you today are cards I made for a lady that used to live in my neighborhood.  She was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  She has had surgery and one more to come, but it sounds like it has not spread and that she will be back to herself again soon.  I sent one card and then made a second one for my mom to send her.  I hope they brighten up her day!

 

Both images are digital images from A Day For Daisies.

 

 

One Layer Card Tutorial

I had someone leave me a comment recently asking how I make my one layer cards, so I will walk you through a card step-by-step.  I hope it is clear and that it will inspire you to make some pretty cards!  I have found that they can be used for a variety of events and would make great card sets for gifts or just to have around when you need something.

This is the card that I will be demonstrating for you:

 



I used the following supplies:

This includes: acrylic block, ink pads/markers, stamps, mist spray bottle with water.  For my card, I used three colors of Memento Inks (Lilac Posies, Potter's Clay, Peanut Brittle).  I use markers to color the acrylic block and full size ink pads for the stamping, but either would work.  I forgot to include it in the picture, but I also used Onyx Black VersaFine Ink.

Step One:
I used an acrylic block that is a bit longer than my card so that it goes off the edges of my folded card.  I took the three Memento markers and colored the acrylic block (going from light to dark to keep from transferring color).  You can do the same using ink pads, but I find you have more control over the colors and design with the markers.  Stampin' up markers, Memento markers, Distress Ink markers...all work fine.

 

Step Two:

After you get the block inked up, then you spray mist the ink with water.  You will get a different effect depending upon how much water you use.  You kind of need to experiment a bit to see what you like best.  I find that I like them a little wetter.

 

 

Step Three:

You will "stamp" your folded card with your acrylic block. I stamped it to the left so that I would have room for my sentiment.  You could experiment with different size blocks and locations. The possibilities are endless!

 

 

Step Four:

Once you remove the acrylic block, you are left with a background of ink.  Sometimes you will have some curl in the paper, but I find that you can continue the process without any problems.

 

 

Step Five:

Now you will need to mask off the parts of the card that you want to keep clean.  I use Post-It Notes, but I recommend that you use two notes for each piece you put down.  I have found out the hard way that inks tend to bleed through one layer and leave random ink marks on your card.  It is frustrating to go through the effort to make the pretty images and then end up ruining the card!  However, if it happens to you, not to worry!  You can just cut off the part and mount it on a new card.  You won't have the one layer style, but you can still use it!

 

 

 

Step Six:

Next you will need several stamps to use to help create the background.  For this card, I used a music staff (Tin Can Mail), some flowers (Sparklers from Penny Black), and a swirl stamp (PrintWorks).  Some of them I have had for some time, but you could use faux words, all kinds of greenery and other texture/swirl type stamps.  If you look at some of my older posts, you will see all kinds of things used!

 

First, I stamped the music staff using the lightest of the three colors I used (Peanut Brittle).

 

 

Then, I used the Sparkler flowers from Penny Black using the medium color ink (Potter's Clay).

 

 

Lastly, I stamped the swirl stamp with the darkest color (Lilac Posies).  I have found I love using this swirl stamp for many of my cards.

 

 

If you want, you can add more layers with other stamps, but I decided that I would keep it to these three for this one.

 

Step Seven:

Next up is the REALLY FUN PART!  Removing the Post-It Notes to reveal your masterpiece!

 

 

 

Isn't it beautiful???? It's amazing that something so simple can look so dramatic!!!

 

Final Step:

The last thing is to add your sentiment.  I tend to use sentiment stamps from Wordsworth, but you can use anything that will fit in the space you have.  This one is from a set called "Life Affirming."

 

If you are not sure if it is the right size or whether it will work, get out your Stamp-A-Ma-Jig.  Don't have one?  You must have one!  I use it all the time for adding images to be sure they are straight or evenly spaced.  It is so simple to use and you can use it to "test the waters" with your sentiments before you commit it to paper. You can also experiment with ink colors to be sure you like it before you stamp it on your card.

 

For inking my sentiments, I tend to use Versa-Fine ink pads.  They provide better ink coverage than the Memento inks.  For this card I used Onyx Black.

 

 

For the finished card I also added a score line on either side of the inked section just to help accentuate it a bit. 

 

 

I hope that this tutorial has helped and that you will be making your own masterpieces! 

Happy Birthday to my Uncle!

This past weekend was my Uncle's Birthday, and this is the card I made to send him.  At their house in the country, they have lots of bird houses, so that is what I used for inspiration.  The digital image is from The Wax Fruit Company.  I haven't seen any new digital images from her lately, so I hope she hasn't given up adding cool images for us to use! For this one, I got out my watercolors.  Paper is by My Mind's Eye.

Weekend Card Extravaganza

Friday night was craft night with my friends and we did even more of the one layer cards!  I promise I haven't given up my markers...just having fun getting inky and actually stamping!  Below are the cards I created Friday night...

The first one features a stamp from Penny Black.  The sentiment is by Wordsworth.

While I had the blue ink out, I tried another version featuring two birds on a branch by Penny Black.  Sentiment by Hero Arts.

 

 

Next up I created two strips of color and then masked both and stamped over them.  I love this!  I will definitely have to try again.  I also want to try using some shapes (circle, etc.) as the sponged backgrounds.  Main image by Panny Black, sentiment from Stampendous.

Next card used a similar color palette, but I liked the background so much, I left it alone and just added a sentiment from Wordsworth.

The last one I tried something a bit different.  I did the usual inked acrylic block, but rather than stamping the main image in black, I colored the image with markers and then added it to the right.  I love the way it turned out. Main image by Penny Black, sentiment from Wordsworth.

More ColourQ Challenge Cards

I had so much fun creating the first one, I had to do more! These next two are also for the ColourQ Challenge # 157

The next two were true one layer cards, also using the same colors. I ended up using a different focal image stamp just to mix it up a bit. I used a gray to sponge part of the background and to stamp some of the branches in the background. 

I was very happy with my THREE cards featuring the colors for this challenge. I can't wait to try the next ones!

ColourQ Challenge

It has been a while since I have done a challenge.  I have been lurking around watching all the cool cards that are being done for the ColourQ challenge and decided to play along this week.  As you can tell from all of my recent posts, I am doing a lot with the one layer cards.  I thought the colors this week for Challenge # 157 would work PERFECTLY with that technique. So...I grabbed my inks and sponges and went to it!!!

My first attempt turned out really pretty, but when I removed my masking pieces, some of the ink bled through and left splotches on the white card below.  BOOOOO!  I ended up cutting off the sponged part and used it on a multi layer card instead.  I still kept the same color palette, but gussied it up with additional layers. It might be hard for you to see the gray, but I used it to sponge the background and to stamp some of the branches in the background!

My Mom's Birthday!

Yesterday was my dear mom's birthday.  I am not going to say how old she is, but it is a milestone one!!  This card is what I sent her.  I used a stamp from A Day for Daisies and gussied it up for my mommy.  I was always encouraged to read, and to this day read A LOT!  I thought this one would celebrate that and let her know how special she is to me.

Instead of my usual Copics, I decided to do some watercoloring.  I wanted a soft look and thought that would work nicely.

One Layer Cards

I have been on a one layer card kick lately!  Apparently, I am still caught up in it!  Below are some of the latest creations using that technique.  Some of these were made on a stamping retreat last weekend, others were made one night this past week.  I imagine there will be more to come as I find time to get my hands all inky!!!

First up is one celebrating the sun and a great image/sentiment stamp from Wordsworth.

 

The next one is outside my comfort zone, but sometimes you just gotta try it and see what happens!  This one is definitely colorful and I kinda like the way it turned out! I borrowed the balloon stamp from a friend.  I think it may be by Just for Fun, but I can't remember.

 

 

Next, I explored my favorite color palette...PURPLE!  Nuff 'said. This one could be used for a variety of ocassions.  The sentiment is by Stampendous.

 

 

I love how the next one turned out!  I think it is one of my recent favorites!  I decided to NOT do a monochromoatic color palette with this one and it turned out AWESOME!  The sentiment is from Wordsworth.

 

 

I started trying to paint the sections using markers instead of dabbing inkpads on the acrylic block for the background.  Using that method makes it so much easier to create the kind of effect I like. The tree, sentiment and birds are all from Wordsworth.

 

 

The next two use the same color combination, but I used different shaped blocks for the backgrounds. Thinking of You Sentiment by Hero Arts.  The second sentiment from Wordsworth.

 

 

 

The last one I have to share features an old sentiment stamp from Wordsworth.  I love how dramatic this one is.  I love the green monochromatic background.  Definitely another one of my favorites!

 



Welcome to "Broadway Bound!" sponsored by Hambo Stamps! Today Hambo customers and the Bacon Bits Design Team are bringing you fun creations that depict Broadway show titles! It might be our favorite, or just one that was fun to design. If you arrived here from Kecia you are in the right place! If not, you might want to start back at the beginning at the Hambo blog to make sure you are eligible for the hopper prize!

A prize will be awarded to one participant whose Broadway-themed creation tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a hammin’ jammin’ way!  Another prize will be awarded randomly to a hopper who comments on all of the blogs along the way. The winners will be announced on the Hambo company blog, Talk to the Ham, on Tuesday, September 25.

We love comments any time, but the deadline for prize entry comments is Sunday, September 23 at 5 PM CST.  Don't miss it!
 
I don't know about you...but I have always loved doing Rebus puzzles.  This card is my take on a rebus.  It ended up being different than my brain envisioned, but I hope you will get it!  I am not going to share it out loud...I want to make you work for it! LOL  My card features the King Digi Stamp at Hambo.  The ampersand was done on the computer and the eye is compliments of some random Google search!

Now dance on over to Kris for another great Broadway show!

Just in case you get lost along the journey, below are all the links!  ENJOY!!!

Talk to the Ham -Hambo blog
Mary
Lyn
Carolina
Kaylee
Deborah
Sarah
Dawn
Sherry
Jan
Libby
Jen
Jane
Kecia
Melissa ---YOU ARE HERE---
Kris
Deanne
Paula
Loll
Judy

Beach Bum

I think this is one of my favorite cards of late...this cute digi image by Mo Manning is adorable.  This was a requested card creation and I think it turned out awesome!  I kept the colors a bit soft and had fun playing around with the browns and the Spica markers to try to re-create the sand. I may have to duplicate this one sometime to keep!

Bunny Love Part Deux

I got a request for another bunny love card for a little boy.  I decided to use a more whimsical paper for the background.  Love this one too!  I just adore that cute bunny....