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This week's Can You Case It Sketch was perfect for a masculine birthday card.
It was fun to ink-up the new Stampin' Up Thoughtful Banners set (with the coordinated paper punch).
The recipient is learning to play the guitar ... I added a few sequins to finish the design.
I'm sneaking one in for the Taylored Expressions Share Joy Challenge.
I combined both the color & the Sketch Challenge. Stamp is Graphics Greetings Thankful (with a paper pieced flower). Background is Pennant Border in Granny Smith & Potato Chip (these paper colors make me hungry).
This week at the TGIF Challenges you're supposed to find inspiration from the May Challenge Cards.
I loved this birthday card by Holly.
I incorporated most of the elements but changed-it-up to be a Congratulations card using new Bravo stamps from CAS-ual Fridays.
I used some awesome copper glitter washi tape and combined it with some Champagne Bling & copper sequins.
Don't you love the fun colors in the Photo Inspiration at Addicted to Stamps and More.
In honor of Memorial Day, I made a patriotic tag inspired by the Tag You're It Challenge.
I used a journaling card as my base and added some ribbon to create a tag.
I embellished with foam glitter star stickers.
The current Unity Stamp Company Challenge is to break out your Itty Bitty Stamps. Since I have an entire drawer full, I knew I needed to start inking.
I love these stamps because they make it so easy to do a single stamp card.
This week's Sketch at Pals Paper Arts was perfect. The stamp is Hope Builds Courage. I used some cardstock scraps and coordinating sequins to pull this one together.
While I was on a roll (and loving merlot and mustard together) I made a second card adding in some light teal with Enjoy (All Kinds of Wine).
My niece recently graduated from her Physician Assistant Program, so I wanted to send her a card. I used some fun stickers and this week's My Favorite Things Weekly Sketch Challenge. Stickers are from Michael's Recollection Collection.
My background is from Die-Namics Blueprints 27 and sentiment is MFT Happy Graduation.
Sometimes I think back to 20 years ago when I seriously believed I had no artistic ability. It's funny how finally finding my artistic muse in cardmaking has led me to explored other artistic mediums with success.
I took a second Fused Glass class and was super-happy with my results. What the studio calls a Turtle Plate was one of my favorites. I made the Purple/Pink one in my first class. I made the Red/Black one in my second glass for my friends at The Palms Massage & Day Spa (I love that my art is hanging out in my home town).
Here's a smaller version that I made for me. I love how the patterned glass created a green frame around each piece when it melted ... the unexpected results are a favorite thing about creating with glass.
My husband gave me the idea for this piece that I made using scraps of glass leftover from my plaid bowl I made in the first class. It hangs in one of our livingroom windows (I have stained glass pieces in several of the other windows, so it's a nice addition).
These Monsters are still my favorite. I even had my classmates giving some a try.
My biggest project was a Mandala using a Kiln Carving technique. My paper punches came in handy as I created my Mandala pattern. I worked on it a little each week, layering the pieces together.
Then after it went into the kiln and all of the kiln paper burned away, it looks like this.
Having success with this new medium made me brave enough to create a piece of art for the annual 2x2xU Art Project. The theme this year was My Grant Wood and artists all create on a 2'x2' piece of wood that is then hung around our neighborhood for the summer. My piece is at NewBo Market near the outdoor seating area.
My piece was an abstract Mosaic inspired by Grant Wood's Young Corn. I used Mod Podge and Scrapbooking papers to create my design (and a couple of magazine pages gifted to me by Lauren ... can you find them in the design?). Here's my inspiration painting. I put a tiny version of the painting up in the clouds.
and here's my inspired work ... you can see my paper punches got a work-out on those trees.
We're still Banishing the Holiday Blues at Jingle Belles ... making cards with no blue.
I started with a velvet Santa gift tag and matted it on the inside of a Puffs with Lotion & Vicks Tissue Box (they have the best metallic silver paper inside).
A simple banner sentiment from Hero Arts and this was quick & easy & done ... I like that.
When I saw the current Fusion Card Challenge inspiration photo, I knew I wanted to decorate a paper wedding cake.
When I looked back, I realized I hadn't made a paper wedding cake since 2012 (and here's one from 2011).
I started with a large piece of textured designer wrapping paper and cut three two-inch strips. I trimmed each strip down a bit as I assembled my cake to get the right balance.
I used a corner rounder on the top of each layer and attached the layers to a gray cardstock base. Next, I used three sizes of paper flowers and some Eyelet Outlet Blue Flower Gems to decorate my cake.
I finished with a simple sentiment at the top.
I'm also linking-up at the Anything Goes Challenge at Simon Says Stamp.
