Why on earth...

This never-before-inked stamp has been in my collection far too long.  Time to put it to work!  A friend requested a birthday card for a family member who has an illness and will be in a facility on her birthday.  I'm told she has a wicked sense of humor so I hope she enjoys the message.

The sentiment is from Creative Mode and acquired from a stamp convention eons ago.  It was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink over the watercolor paper background I created using:  distress inks in yellows, greens and browns; Studio 490 stencils (Vintage Quilt and Polka Dotty); Studio 490 gold embossing paste; gold paint dabber; Black Soot Distress Glitter.  There's a brown layer underneath the card front which all sits atop a white A2 card.

Ten years and counting

I've been a member of a free bulletin board group for about 20 years.  The Gingerwood site was started back in 1994 and I believe the true nature of the bulletin board was added 2 years later.  There are a number of links...scrapbooking, stamping, artwork sharing, stamping projects and stamping techniques...that members (only because we had some hackers do stupid stuff) can access to further their artistic desires.  One year we even created a cookbook!

The group had a hostess that kept up with birthdays, anniversaries and RAKs but in 2006 she needed to step back and asked if I would be interested.  After learning all I could about how this worked I agreed (it took some computer skills I didn't know I had!).  Here we are 10 years later and the list is still going strong.  We no longer recognize anniversaries and have separated the list into two parts, birthdays and RAKs.  Some of the women have been on it since inception and some have come, gone, and returned as their situations changed.  But all joined with the idea of sending paper greetings across the miles, hoping to brighten someone's day.

One of the members announced my anniversary (today) as the hostess on the board and requested a card shower to recognize my efforts.  To date I have received these cards...all works of art and their messages of gratitude mean so much to me.  I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I do.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you ladies for thinking of me and letting me know how much you appreciate my efforts.

Jenna Coleman

Pat Fadio

Dorveda Gehring

Lisa Hom

Karen Lingel

Karen Lingel

Yvonne Jenks

Vicki Blancq

Cheryl Losieczka

Gingerwood

Hoping for a better day

than the one this crazy bird is experiencing.  I saw a similar card on Pinterest and knew I had to recreate it.

The base card is red Bazzle; the next layer is white card stock that was run through the Checkerboard Texture Fade (inked with brown distress ink).  I edged the layer with more brown and black distress inks.

The bird was inked with Jet Black Archival and stamped twice onto watercolor cardstock.  I used the coordinating die to cut him out.  Clear Rock Candy distress stickles was used on his eyes; Fired Brick distress stickles on his wings and head feathers.  His beak and wings were elevated with tiny foam dots.

I colored white card stock with Hickory Smoke distress ink; heat set then colored again with Brushed Pewter distress ink; heat set again.  Stamped Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers can in Watering Can archival ink; cut out; edge with brown and black distress inks.

Using a small Vial Label I wrote 'chicken soup' with a black Fude Ball pen.  While cutting it down to size the ink smeared.  So I continued dabbing at the label so it would look intentional.  Then I heat set it before applying it to the can.

On a scrap of water color card stock I traced around a Claudine Hellmuth stencil of word bubbles.  I inked 'Marty???' using Hero Arts alphabet stamps and Jet Black archival ink.  I added a bit of brown and black distress ink to shade the edge.

I edged the Adage Ticket with brown and black distress inks then crumpled it before adding it behind the tin can.

A friend is going through a rough patch; I hope this brings a smile to her face.

It's the beginning...

of another year of monthly tags inspired by Tim Holtz.  I like that this year his focus will be on a remix of previous tag techniques.  Think of all the products and colors that have come out since he first started doing the tags back in 2007.  Lots and lots of goodness to grace our artsy spaces!

surfaces:  metal foil tape, #8 manila tag, black cardstock
inks:  distress embossing ink
paint:  distress paint-Black Soot/Brushed Pewter/Picket Fence
embossing powder:  Frosted Crystal
embellishments:  word band, long fasteners, foliage, silk ribbon
tools:  texture fade: Poinsettia Knit; stamp: Christmas Blueprint 4; foam tape, ds tape
misc.: white chalk

I followed along with the techniques as they were described.  I colored my silk ribbon with the Brushed Pewter distress paint.  There was only 1 word band in my drawer; it helped me decide on the theme of my tag.

This Industrial Metal technique has me thinking about other color combinations that would create other faux looks.

Words of comfort

My husband lost a cousin just before Christmas.  My usual themes for a sympathy card weren't right for this time of year so I decided to go with a more traditional holiday look.

The base card is white and I've narrowly trimmed a second piece of the same cardstock for the top layer.  I dry embossed it using Sizzix Tall Pines folder.

On a scrap of the same white cardstock I stamped DRS Designs' In Sympathy in Jet Black Archival Ink.  Around the edges I added tiny evergreen sprigs and pine cones using Impression Obsession DIE097-M with green and brown cardstocks.  Before I removed the pine cones I added a bit of brown distress ink (whatever was on the pad) over the petals for depth.

I don't think anyone enjoys making sympathy cards but I find that using something that reminds me of the individual, whether it be a hobby or a favorite color, can be a big help.  If these don't work then go with a seasonal theme. 

January birthdays

white cardstock
core'dinations blue cardstock
Ranger:  snow cap pigment ink, embossing ink
Stampendous: winter wonderland embossing powder
Stampers Anonymous: Handwritten Thoughts
Sizzix:  Layering stencil (Snowflakes), Snowman, mini movers & shapers bow

White card base, blue layer dry embossed with the snowman folder then sanded.  White pigment ink used with the layering stencil.  Cover box with white pigment ink, dry.  Pressinto embossing ink and add sparkling embossing powder, heat set.  Drop of glue behind the bow and place at the snowman's neck in lieu of a scarp.  Stamp message in embossing ink, sprinkle with glittery embossing powder, heat set.

Here in the midwest you're like'y to have a birthday sparkled by snow.  So as you walk through it, leave a bit of it (and yourself) behind.

Happy New Year!

2016...hope it's magical and wonderful!

Ranger:  Adirondack Stream ink
Idea-ology:  Vintage Shabby cardstock
Bazzill:  white, blue-green cardstocks
Hero Arts: D2019 stamp