The Cat Came Back, CSC#45 revisited

The cat came back. She couldn't stay away. She just had stay and play another day.



Hi welcome to phase II of my experience in masking for The Case Study Challenge #45. I'm doing digital and handmade again. I love mixed-media art. I began by creating a page in Corel, a 6 x 6 box, the wheat stamp and the placement of the cat digi stamp. By the way, I make my own image files. I rarely use rubber or pre-made digi stamps. I printed the sheet and a second cat for a mask. After placing down a moon and cat mask, I used watercolors (and some ink) to make a background. And when it dried it was wrinkled.
I scanned the colored page into Corel (my graphics program). Ahh, nice and flat again. With Corel I create the lower green area do some more masking. I created two long grass images, small and large in off white. I layered the grass over the kitty (I sacrifice the first cat now) then replace a kitty in the same place and covered it again with grass. It looks like the cat was in the grass, behind, and in front.

One more printout and cut to size. I also do some more inking to the edges. I use my colorbox flowerbox's for edging. The wedge shape is great. I twisted two colors of my self crinkled and dyed Snug Hug and applied with dot glue and whipped up a jumble bow with buttons. The dollies were so fun to make! I also used a little Stickles. There is no sentiment. I'll be able to use this card as an All Occasion sometime.

Whoa, paragraph 4...I'll wrap up.
Have a great day, stay outta of the sun (my porch-112 right now!)).
Peace and chicken, Vicki

The Case Study Challenge #45


UPDATE: I won top winner in The Case Study Challenge #45! I had so much fun creating the kitty cards. Case Study is a wonderful place and I feel honored with this win. Thanks to all! Peace and Fried Chicken, Vicki

Meow Kitty Masked Card, Case Study #45

This is the first time I've ever masked anything. And it is FUN!


Greetings! Today I ripped out a card using this lovely card below as my inspiration. This is the Case Study Challenge #45!



A cute card using lots of inking techniques. And a first for me is masking. So I visited Miss Jill Foster's site (our Case Study Muse) and watched her video about inking and masking. I think I've got it. I'd like to do another card too for this challenge.

I've used digital papers and a digi kitty that I hand colored with pastels. I do not have ink dabbers yet, I'm always rigging things to do the same job. I used my colorbox inks for the edges and the moon mask, created a 3-d label (computer) and I even cased Jill's paper punching dots. I've had the image files soooooo long I can't remember who to credit. And I guess because this technique is new to me...I didn't do a cute outline shape to the card. But I do like clean shapes. I hope you try out this technique and that you enjoy it as much as I did. Peace and chicken.

SnowBall Flower / Pink Lemonade Colors

The Shabby Tea Room has the sweetest color combo. Pink, lt. green and neutral. They call it "Pink Lemonade", mmmmm, I can still remember cold lemonade on a hot Maryland day...and I remember how sticky that weather would be too. It's been over 100 degrees here for two weeks. Thank goodness the humidity factor is nearly un-measurable in Tucson. But Arizona is ON FIRE! Up north it's the fire of the century. Down here in southern AZ we have three fires on the southern border, all about 40 miles from Mexico. The one in the middle (the Monument Fire) is hurting the town of Sierra Vista (Fort Huchucha). Even in Tucson there have been wild fires. One sadly burned the historic trolly's being worked on downtown as part of an enrichment project for the city's heritage. It's all very sad, we are saying prayers around here.

...................Click this Photo:)...................


My card is designed to follow along with Case Study #44 and their Muse's example card. But think I'll be doing two cards for Case Study this week. I loved the Shabby Tea Room colors and it gave me a chance to try out an idea I had for a snowball flower, like the ones I remember in my grandmothers garden. I made two little box lids, secured together, taped on a circle base and spot taped each flower, working up from the bottom. It's puffy and very cute. I made leaves with my Hug Snug ribbon that I wrinkled and dyed earlier. I had some fun ribbons and lace and added lots and lots of pearls. There's a computer made label and it's covered with cooked UTEE. I made my stick pins too. I love the double lace skirt. The bottom layer is a punched piece with pink pearls. It's a romantic look. I wanted a verse on the card to come in handy for correspondence with my church. It says "The Lord is my Light. And it is!

Entered with- The Shabby Tea Room & Case Study



UPDATE: This cute card was up against some REALLY pretty (and alot of)cards at the The Shabby Tea Room's Pink Lemonade Challenge. I managed to pick up one of the honorable mentions. Whee! Thank you Shabby girls, this is my second badge.

Wow!

Just note, I'm kinda having a good moment. Of course almost anything is better than to what I woke up to this morning....left overs and bio mess after whats looks like was ALL 6 cats having a battle on my craft table. Supplies everywhere, fur balls and other nasties. They even broke the cable box. My husband is outta town...he'll love this.

But I digress, my cards (4 in a row) have been noticed with winnings. I'm bowled away. I've entered 18 cards into challenge runs and won 6 in the course of 3 months. So..wow! I've blown my streak I'm sure- by just finishing up my digital 1950's Stove Card Set. Which I find to be a riot, and they are a commercially viable product for sale in town if I can get my act together and re-license "Victoria Lavender" for business. It's been so nice to be recognized. Bless everybody (including cats);)








This were my first two wins.

The Stove Card Set

I had a lot of fun with a card I made yesterday. So here's a whole set! I made the card in Corel 14, see post Pink Stove Card for more details.

I'm just having fun! This set has been entered in Case Study as well as it's first born sister. Peace & Chicken.









 

 

thanks for visiting

Retro Pink Stove Card, PDCC85 & CS43

Ha Ha Ha! I've lost it now! Yesterday I joined a challenge to celebrate "your style". Style? I'm like a Chameleon when it comes to a style.As a graphic artist, you make your bread and butter creating something in someone else's style. So recreating and observing styles is ongoing, even in my retirement. This card will be called as I refer to myself sometimes as a "mixed media".



(I've added on some pictures since I published the Pink Stove. I loved making the card so much I created a pastel 1950's Campy Stove Set. This I've done for myself. I hope you enjoy them too.Check them out at Stove Card Set.)

My card is created in Corel 14. I designed the retro stars and sentiment. My images are from a website selling the retro appliances. I had a lot of clean up to do on the images to make them just right. The only 3D touch is the sweet pink heart rhinestone. But I'm pleased with the card, and my obsession to make something different all the time is satisfied too.

I was inspired to make this card using the colors for Play Date Cafe. Blueberry, Cream and Dusty Rose. Once I saw the pink stove I was hooked, I had to make the card. I've also been mulling around in my head how to do the latest Case Study Card and I took the layout cues from them.

I need to do a silly card once and a while. If you'd like to see the other silly card in this website, look up Christopher Walken Card.

Thanks for dropping by, Peace.

PPA97-Fashion Inspiration-What's Your Signature Style

This challenge ought to be a wild one and really hard for the Pals Paper Arts designers to decide on. I still can't say what my style is. "Shabby", but not. "Classic", but too busy. Sometimes they come out "Clean" and recently I had wins with a "Clean" and a "Contemporary" and a "Classic".

I will call this one "Kinda Shabby".

I hear a hairball event going on somewhere behind me...ughhh....gotta go!

Peace.

Pink and Chocolate for Christmas

Cosmopolitan Neapolitan, yummy strawberry, chocolate and vanilla. I've been waiting for a pink and brown color challenge and I found one with Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger. Yeah. My goal for this card was to find four challenges to create from. I don't mean looking afterwards for challenges that will apply to a card, but starting the creation with four sites in mind. This worked out well. My great sketch is from Mojo Monday #194. Christmas is covered by Jingle Belles - "Let It Sew, Let It Sew, Let It Sew". And lastly the Shabby Tea Room #65 is Technique Week and the challenge is to emboss.




I can't believe how long it took to put this card together. I beat myself up without realizing it because I cut these strips with the curved end. Most everyone else (including the sketch) replaced with punched circles or whatnot. Duh, Vicki. I learn as I go. I ended up searching through ALL my papers to find the combo. I can't remember all the titles, but all my paper is DCWV. While visiting Ewen Style one day, I saw this really cool medallion. Andrea uses a corner punch to create it with. After I checked out her tutorial I looked at a few You Tube tutorials and worked out my way to punch it. Funny, there are lots of ways...find your favorite. I layered two pieces and topped with an actual stamped sentiment. Ok, if you're new to my cards, I try to do most of my labels from the computer:) Stick on pearls, clear glitter, cuttlebug embossing, lots of sewing, pink, brown and white, a sketch, felt ribbon. I think I managed to meet my goal, and I'm happy with the results. My husband just called from the gold mine in Cripple Creek (away on another trip) and I was able to share with him that my seed packet card won two tops honors! Whee! I like card challenges.

Thanks for visiting with me, Bless you all. Vicki

UPDATE: This card won an Honorable Mention with The Shabby Tea Room. Honestly I'm amazed. My last four cards in a row have winnings. I'll be getting a blinkie soon from them.

Summer Breeze, Lot's of Orange!

Where I live (Tucson) it's been summer for a while. So it was so nice to see a couple of color challenges for summer. "Do You Stack Up, DYSU #22 Orange". is closing it's challenge in minutes. Making a card under 2 hours it still difficult for me. I'm still kinda new at this challenge stuff. (But, oh boy do I like them.)

My layout is from Card Pattern's #118, a really fun curved piece. And my colors were inspired by Inkspirations, challenge #72. I love these summer colors! I created the medallions from The Citrus Stack. The flowers were just calling out to be cut-out. My label is made in Corel 14. Some little punched leaves to bring it all together.

Recipe:
Cardstock - DCWV, Mango Frost, Citrus Print & Solid Stacks
Ribbon - Oriental Traders

Color Box Ink, Sewing Machine, Rhinestone, Stickles-orange and diamondhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

It's a great day...Enjoy it fully!

UPDATE: This card, which is close to my heart and quickly made, just won the as winner for Inkspiration Color Challenge #72! I'm so thankful and so very blessed.

Faux Ruby Glass Butterflies

They sparkle like glass, but these butterflies are easy to make.



In an earlier post I explained how to create the "broken glass" effect. It's the same process. Instead of heavy layers to crack and break, it's lighter, 2 to 4 coats. I tape the butterfly to a craft stick and apply Versa Mark. I keep my UTEE in a plastic container with a spoon. The butterfly is small enough to dip directly into the container to re-coat. I'm careful, but I always imagine the amazing mess if I were to ever accidentally aim the hot gun at the powder box. When I get my "just right" finish (and that's something that practice will will help with) I carefully use an X-acto blade to release the embellishment from the craft stick. Do this right away before it cools. Do any needed trimming right away. Also this is your only moment to adjust the wings. This lighter finish cools much faster than the heavier "broken glass".

I started with the idea of the colors in this card from Play Date Cafe Challenge and the design sketch by Just Add Ink. I fell in love with the metallic ruby paper from DCWV. I loved it against white. My other colors, grey & green became accent colors (like a color splash). I was also able to completely create this card using my Cricut Expression.

Recipe:
DCWV The Mariposa Cardstock Stack (Ruby)
DCWV The Brights Cardstock Stack (White)

Cricut Expression, UTEE, Hot Gun, Rhinestones, Tacky Glue, Pearl Sprig, Spray Adhesive

I hope you like the butterflies and thanks for the visit!
"Peace and Chicken"

Card is entered in:
Play Date Cafe Challenge #84
Just Add Ink #70
My Mum's Craft Shop, #8 Things with Wings
Charisma Cardz Challenge #22 Something that Flies
By The Cute and Girly Challenge, June-In the Garden
Digi Stamps 4 Joy, #20 : "On the wings of a ..."

Update: I won Cup of the Week with Play Date Cafe! Yaah! Woohoo! Another Badge for my site. I really loved these butteries. I've sent out thank yous and I will also be receiving a cool set of stamps from "Mark's Finest Papers". I must admit I hadn't heard of these folks until the challenge...but I checked out their website and it's nice! They have #140lb cardstock! Gotta get me some of that! I won a stunning stamp set called "Planted With Love". I like their stamps too. I don't really go for sweet and cute (know...too cute)but these stamps are all great images with fun fonts. Thank you Play Date Cafe and Mark's Finest Papers.

Making a Mini Seed Packet from Your Printer/Scanner!

Time for a weekly challenge card. I found two spots that got me started. Card Patterns and Tuesday Throwdowns. Great pattern to follow and making my own embellishments is always a favorite for me. Today I wanted to use a seed packet on the card but most of the time they are too large. So I demonstrate the process to how I got a mini seed packet. Also, three other challenges offer to me a lot of fun this week. The Shabby Tea Room is having a Recipe Challenge. "2-4-6", Two patterned papers, four buttons (I'm using 2 chipboard buttons & 2 plastic), 6 layers. One Stop Craft Challenge is "Ribbons and Bows", and Ribbon Carousel Challenge is "anything off a spool".

Let's make an Embellishment! (Click on image to enlarge)



First I took some nice seed packets and put them in the scanner. Using whatever layout program you like (I use Corel 14, Word should work) import and minimize the image to your liking. Leave a half inch border around the image to cut along. In the image I drew lines to show you (and me) where to cut. Cut out a piece of cardstock to fit the same size as the new seed packet. Now score along the image edges, fold toward the back and cut away the corners.



Test your backing piece (the cardstock) for a good fit. Take a few beads (or seeds!) and put into the open seed packet, drop in the cardstock back and start gluing the flaps down. I used tacky glue and didn't have to use that brick after all.



WaaLaa...mini seed packet! Looks good too. I sanded the edges and lightly inked it to show age before it was secured to my card. So a new card, a new embellishment and I had fun playing in my studio. It's all good.

Peace and love, Vicki

Wheeeeee! Update: I won Top 3 at Tuesday Throwndown! I'm a bit stunned. I was unhappy with the card, until yesterday. I pulled out the pearl strands and fell in love with the card again. But it won from the photo with the strands. I'm still quite happy. I won a side badge to go along with my first two wins with Case Study and Pals Paper Arts. Making cards is lots of fun. Winning here and there adds a bit a thrill.

Wheeeee Again, this card has also won with Cards Patterns! WhooHoo!