Just Monkeying around.

I saw this card on Pinterest and thought I would give it a try. You can get the template here. My daughter loves the sock monkey and her husband calls her monkey so I made this for her birthday, but it looks to childish.

Here are several cards I made over the last week or so.

Imade this swing card using "pure innocence serenity" yoga girl stamp. I bought it from MFT's but I can't find it to offer the link. Perhaps it's been discontinued.

I'm not real pleased with this card either so it to remains unfinished. I love the black and white stripes and polka dots but the cute little yogi doesn't work. What to do?

Up next is a fish bowl card inspired by my friend Loll. I love everything she does and  often try to remake my own version using what I have available. The first fish card I used a page from a catalog I got in the mail. It was quality paper with an ocean scene so I thought it would work...like a bowl view scooped from the ocean...a bit messy but I learn by doing.

The second one I used some epoxy stickers and drew in the seaweed.  At least this one appeals to me even if it's childish. I learned I didn't need the fish bowl cut behind the window bowl.

This is a free digi print I saw on Pinterest, the problem is I can't find it now...It's signed with a B. Id like to acknowledge the author...and I will as soon as I find out. I just spend 30 minutes looking for it and got distracted.

Here's a step card using several elements cut from a single sheet of paper. The golden happy birthday is attached to acetate. 

That's all I have for now. I seem to tire so easily, it must be all the medicines slowing me down, and the heat way doesn't help. I'm well and happy if not energetic, I have much to be thankful for.

Be well and thanks for visiting. Carole

After a week off

After a week off I couldn't wait to get crafting. Today I made 3 cards, this brilliant daisy birthday card was rescued from a blob of ink. Oops. I love the bright red and as I was making the tiny dots, I smeared  a glop of ink. The daisies are big enough to cover it and they won't tell.

It was suppose to have the "Happy Birthday" down on the corner with a die cut lady bug angled at the top of the sentiment. Red and black where to be the colors. Simple and fun. Oh well I'll do that another time. 

 Now here's a simple quick "hello" card. I started with a brown paper bag cut and spray glued to card stock. I attached the "Tim Holtz big sizzix vintage telephone die" with dimensional dots. I did apply Glossy accents to add a shine, stamped the "hello!" with the individual letter stamps I bought at Micheal's for $1.00...all done!  

Next up is a step card. I had all the elements cut from last year so it was just a matter of assembling them. Featured is the light house, a cloud and the sun with an anchor on the rocky shore. A pair of flip-flops a scallop sea shell and a tiny crab completer the first step. Behind that is another sandy step with a bucket and shovel beside a sand castle. The umbrella is glued on the back of that step. The last step has a sail boat on the ocean as the dolphins jump and play. Behind the last step has a pull out card with a big thank you and a personal note.

  This is a thank you card for my Aunt. She has a nice vacation trailer down in Sea Isle City, NJ. 

I have an open invitation to come and stay over anytime I want. How gracious! I try not to take advantage.

I often cut multiples of these tiny elements to have on hand. It helps cut down on the time it takes to create a unique card. I use watercolor paper and cutting with Cricut - and the SCAL program, I cut all the elements on one sheet, then I color them with  pencils or markers. This saves me time with the layout and using different colored paper.

"There is no such thing as gratitude unexpressed.  If it is unexpressed, it is plain, old-fashioned ingratitude."  ~Robert Brault

 Thanks for visiting. Comments are appreciated. Be well ~ Carole

Birthday cards for Nick

A friend asked me to make some cards for her boyfriend Nick. She told me he likes airplanes, trains, fishing and her. So after I spent too much time looking for inspiration for masculine cards, I finally decided on a step card.

I used my cricut to cut the fish, fishing pole and the tree. I made a tiny fishing lure and stuffed it in the pocket of the fishing vest I hand cut, along with a tiny neckerchief I cut from a magazine.

The sentiment says " Real men fish...reely!"  Pun-y! any way the next pic shows a pull out card with a fishing lure hook. Fun right? I hope Kathy enjoys it as well as Nick.

The next card features an airplane I printed and cut twice to give it some dimension. I dry embossed the clouds outlined in shades of blue and attached them with dimensional dots too.

I used a stencil to hand print the greetings inside and out. I love the sakura gelly roll pens I used, one in blue and the other silver, adds a nice bit of sparkle.

The inside reads " Hope lovely surprises are flying your way...to make your birthday a wonderful day." So I included two paper airplanes I cut, folded and printed out from Canon paper craft. Just for fun...they really fly too!

 
The third card is a silhouette of a dancing couple and the sentiment says " Because of you there's a song in my heart."

The inside says..
" Have you always looked this young? Or is it just an annoying habit you've picked up in your old age?"

I do find it so much more challenging to create cards for men, but I'll keep trying.


Thanks for visiting, if you have something to say leave a comment.


 "Those that know, do. Those that understand teach." Aristotle

Be well Carole

Tiki bar step card

Fun in the Sun

 Happy Independence Day! Today I played with the Luau files from:

 SVG Attic, so much fun using tropical colors and remembering past vacations. I love the palm trees and  torch. The tiki bar is embossed and  I had to improvise the sign because it was to small to cut. I used water color paper for most of the cuts, then colored them with Marvey pens. I wanted polka dots on the flip flops so I used a fabric paint. I didn't have a stamp that said FUN IN THE SUN so I printed it on acetate using the mirror setting than I just rubbed it on the sun. I did the same for the TIKI BAR. That's a great tip I learned from a tutorial by Linda at Paper Boutique. If you would like that link please make the request. Thanks I have to go, Hubby's calling.

Red White and Blue Challenge step card

I just finished this card and used my phone camera so it will show some depth. I was excited about posting it to see how it shows up.  
I'll be back later to complete the post, but for now I must feed my man.

Time to celebrate step card

Wow the summer is officially here when the 4th of July celebrations begin. So I made another step card. This one has a patriotic theme with the Statue of Liberty, a flag, and the Liberty Bell. There's fireworks in the back with Uncle Sam, a hotdog with mustard and a bottle rocket. The grill,  picnic basket with a napkin and a lawn chair put me in the mood for a picnic. For details of the products and files I used please let me know. Be well and Happy holiday.

Lighthouse step card and shadow box card

sea side dreams

I'm wild about the Cape Cod collection and love playing with the many elements. I'm trying different size cuts for the step cards and the ones that don't work I'll use on a flat card. I added the umbrella dolphin and a cute little crab from the summer shapes library in SCAL. There's a sand castle and the crab on the last step but you can only see the flag sticking up. I need to get a camera, or find a new battery for the one my sister gave me. I cut a small piece off an old hand towel and hung it on the chair. When I was inking the edges of the blue paper I messed it up, so why not cover it with a piece of cotton ball for a cloud. I do several cuts on water color paper,allowing me to make several different cuts at once( like the umbrella, chair, shovel and pail), then I color them with Marvy Le Plume pens. I really like the look of the torn paper for the sand and the water. I used glossy photo paper for the white part of the light house and then I rounded it for dimension. If I can't vacation by the sea than I just play and dream.

shadow box card

I watched a u tube video on how to make a shadow box card and this is my version. I'm not crazy about square cards but this was fun. If your interested in the files I used please sign up as a follower and I'll send you the information. Thanks for visiting and stop back soon!

Step Cards
  
 
This is a step card made to look like a dresser and the other light house I'm still working on, it needs a sentiment. I was inspired by Thienly at:
http://modpaperie.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-first-ever-step-card-and-why-havent.html
She is amazing.  Then I saw this by Cely : at  Creating in Carolina.
http://creatingincarolina.blogspot.com/2011/06/give-man-fish-and.html Wow Step cards are really fun.The problem with scanning is you can't see the dimension. This was so much fun playing with the die cut elements I can't wait to make more. Since I don't have many followers I won't take the time to list the tools, products and files. If you want that information  please leave a comment and I'll respond. Thank you. I'm going back to playing. Be well