OCC Mask-erade Day 5

Hello everybody! How's your weekend been? Can't believe it's over already! I got another card done for Online Card Class's Mask-erade homework. It took a lot of steps, but I got 'er done. Yes, it's for day 5, not 4. I couldn't do Day 4 because I didn't have the right supplies, so I skipped on to Day 5 instead.

This class was about using embossed images for masks. That was very interesting to me because I had never thought to do that. Try it sometime -- use something like balloons to put one in front of another. You don't have to use anything to mask if you emboss it first. Stamp the first image, then emboss it. Stamp the other image behind the first image, but wipe off the overlapping ink. Then heat emboss that image. Continue that and you have a completed picture with overlapping images--images you did not have to mask with paper or liquid masking. Got that? Clear as mud?

The clouds were created with a cupcake icing image I had. I just stamped it, cut it out, and used the top part for the clouds. Easy!

I had fun creating this card, but once I was done I realized it made no sense. When does an octopus fly  in the sky with balloons? Aren't they usually in water? I added some sequins just to add to the confusion. lol Go figure. I followed the lesson by Jennifer McGuire so closely I paid no attention that her animal was different from mine--I created the same scene! Well, you know, I must've been tired...

This is the last day for class, but cards will continue. Thank you for stopping by today! I appreciate your comments and visits very much, and I hope to see you again real soon ~

OCC Mask-erade Day 3

Hello! Here we are with another day's homework for Online Card Class Mask-erade. This card is for Day 3, even though we're actually on Day 5. I'm behind. Big surprise! Life has been busy the past few days, with my car troubles returning and also doing a little entertaining, too. I had to clear off my dining room table (overloaded with craft supplies) so I could have a couple people over for dinner. Wow, did I ever find some surprises in those stacks! Today, however, I've begun to bring some of it back. Gotta play!

Okay, this card is for Day 3, where we learned to use liquid masking. What a learning experience! I have seen that bottle of stuff at the store many times but never tried it before. It wasn't too hard and was kind of fun.

After stamping an image on Watercolor Cardstock, I covered it with liquid masking and then let it dry. Once it was completely dry, I watercolored right over the image with various shades of blue. Once that was dry, I rubbed off the masking and then colored the image. Layered onto a card base, and Done! That wasn't hard at all. The longest part was letting it dry. I kept wanting to rub off the masking before it was dry, but I knew that would ruin my project. Patience!

Thank you for stopping by today! I appreciate your comments and visits very much, and I hope to see you again real soon.

OCC Mask-erade Day 2

Hello again! I'm trying to keep up with my homework. This is Day 2 for Online Card Class's Mask-erade session. Fortunately, I was able to create this card right away after watching the class videos.

Kristina Werner showed us how to mask a card and then stencil over it with embossing paste. This  creates space for a sentiment. I had this wonderful star stencil and a big birthday stamp from Sizzix, so I had to try it. Plus, it was easy!

This card took no time at all. The longest part was letting the embossing paste dry. It looks rather simple, because it is, but I still like it. I added a few sequins since there were no stars below the sentiment. (There weren't any on the stencil that went that low.) Finally, I added the ribbon.

Thank you for coming by (again) today! I appreciate your comments and visits very much, and I really do hope to see you again very soon!

OCC Mask-erade Day 1

Hello! How are you today? I hope you're able to enjoy good weather and are not suffering from rain and floods. The pictures on the news of the floods are so scary!

I am taking another Online Card Class. This one is called Mask-erade and is all about masking. This card is for our first day's Gallery. After watching all three videos, I decided to follow Debby Hughes' lead and create a card based on her lesson.

Using Inkadinkado masking paper, I created a mask with a die cut circle on the bottom left side (giving me a large piece and a small piece). Using the larger mask without the circle, I blended some Cracked Pistachio Distress Ink and then masked the circle again. After taking off the larger mask, I began stamping various flowers from the WPlus9 Fresh Cut (two-step) Florals set. Inks are from Stephanie Barnard's Stamps of Life.

That description might be clear as mud, but it's the best I can do. This was a fun card to make, although a little challenging. I found it a little difficult to get the two-step flowers right, and I also found it challenging to get the flowers centered around the top part of the circle just right.

I decided not to place flowers across the bottom as I had in my first attempt at this card. Debby had some on both sides of her circle, and I tried to replicate that but couldn't do it so it looked right. I think this card turned out all right despite that.

Thank you for stopping by today! I appreciate your comments and visits very much, and I hope to see you again real soon ~

Birthday Flip-It

Hello everybody! How's your Memorial Day Weekend? I hope it was fun and eventful. For me it was quiet but I was very happy to spend some time at the pool, relaxing by the water.

Today's card is another Flip-It design. I belong to the Stamps of Life Card Club, and the paper and elements used for this card were included in one of the kits. I love the dots and stars in the bright colors! The arrows were stickers I used to point to the sentiment. The birthday sentiments were from a Happy Birthday stamp set by Sizzix, also sold at Stamps of Life. After several tries, these were the ones that fit the best in the flip-it part of the card.

The Happy Birthday on the front was actually in a word bubble, but I wiped that part off and just inked the words. That was the only way I could get it to fit, and it worked!

I hope you'all had a wonderful long weekend. Thank you for stopping by today. I appreciate your comments and visits very much, and I hope to see you again real soon ~

Panda!

Hello! How's everybody doing? I hope you're having a wonderful day and am able to enjoy some nice sunshine.

I recently discovered The Ton Couture Clear Stamps, and wow are they awesome! After looking through all their fun stamps, I just HAD to purchase a few. Take a look at the link--I promise you'll find something you like!

This card uses one of those stamp sets, called Panda Can't Even. I LOVE those Pandas! Aren't they cute? This card was showcased on Trending with The Ton at The Ton's website (see above). Isn't that exciting?

I have a friend who is recovering from a total knee replacement and thought she could use some cheering up. While not exactly a Get Well card, it should at least bring a smile to her face. In case you can't read the sentiment, it says "sending you hugs & happy thoughts." Hope she likes it!

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I appreciate your comments and visits very much, and I hope to see you again real soon ~

Gelatos

Hello everybody! How's your day coming along?

I've been taking an Spring Gelatos Workshop with Jeri Parks and have been so excited to show you this card. Although we only created this one card for the entire class, the short study was worth it. I've not worked with Gelatos before, although I had a set waiting to be explored. Fortunately, it was the same set that Ms. Parks used for our card!

I stamped the Dictionary image from SU! onto white cardstock. Using my fingers, I spread yellow and red Gelatos throughout the page to color. Then, with a MS punch, I stamped two rows of delicate edging that I placed onto the Dictionary page with a row of lace ribbon down the center. The label was cut using Spellbinders Label Twenty after stamping in blue with a Just Rite Stamp called Kindness that matched the die. Again, I used Gelatos in red and yellow to color. After cutting a Spellbinders Layered Flowers piece, I layered it in the center of the label, then placed a ribbon and sentiment on top of that.

If this sounds like a lot, it was, but it was worth it in my opinion. I would've never thought to do all this for one card, so I'm glad I learned how to do it in class. This is one of those cards that keeps coming back to me as one of my favorites, and I hope to continue to play with all the new supplies it took to get it together. I hope you like it, too.

Thank you for stopping by today! I appreciate your comments and visits very much, and I hope to see you again real soon ~

Regarding Dahlias

Hello everybody! How's your day coming along? Things have finally settled down at my house and I've been able to get back to crafting again. WooHoo! What fun!

Today's card uses the stamp set Regarding Dahlias from Stampin Up! They have just posted their Retired List, and this was on it. Since it's one of the sets I'd earmarked for future purchase, I figured the time was NOW to get it before they no longer offered it.

The card base is Stampin Up's Strawberry Slush, and so is the ink and twine. I like the way everything matches. I didn't have to color the flower, so this was a very easy card to make.

Thank you for stopping by today! I appreciate your comments and visits very much, and I hope to see you again real soon ~

Flowers and Bees

Hello everyone! How are you today? I'm sorry it's been so long since my last post. Life has been busy! A dear friend of mine who has been staying with me had a sudden illness and I spent some time helping him. He is doing fine now, which is good news. Sometimes when my heart goes toward something or someone in a situation like that, I lose my mojo for creativity for a while. In time, however, it always comes back, thank goodness!

I saw a card similar to today's posting on the Paper Blossoms site and fell in love with it. So, combining two of my stamp sets, I gave my best attempt at CASing the card. Using a set by Stephanie Barnard's Stamps of Life and a Stamp TV Kit by Gina K Designs, I die cut the flowers & leaves (STV) and then stamped the bees and their hives (SOL). Finally, I die cut and layered the "hello" (also from SOL) and added it.

That's it! Once I got everything lined up that I was going to use, the card only took about 5-10 minutes to compile and finish.

Thank you for stopping by today! I appreciate your visits and comments very much, and I hope to see you again real soon!