Create Yourself

Hallo,
Just a short note before I am off and running for the morning - tonight starts my first long stretch on night shift - 4 -12 hour shifts in a row from 7pm to 7am - haven't done this night shift stuff in a long time so wish me luck.
I need to get a few groceries first thing this am and get a card made.....then my friend and chief enabler Pat and I are going to a local churches annual garage sale. Not that I need anything but they often have some good stuff.....where I will put it who knows.....


Once back from the garage sale I will take me a good long nap.....its going to be a good day for a nap, looks like rain....
On to todays card....the technique is based on TJ's colorwash batik but has been highly modified - accually more or less combined with the sanded cordinations technique. The batik technique starts with embossing with clear powder onto white cardstock which I skipped altogether.
Here's what I did - I started with yellow cordinations cardstock and added patches of chalk in red and orange - leaving patches of the yellow showing.
Then I ran it through a cuttlebug embossing folder and sanded over the top of the texture from the folder. That is the fun thing about this cardstock - it has a white core so is great for sanding and distressing.
Next I stamped and embossed in black the phrase - from Unity Stamps - onto clear cardstock and added it to the front of the cardbase with the batik modified technique.
The flowers - from Gina K designs - were stamped onto cardstock and colored with copic markers. I cut them out and layered them on top of the clear cardstock.
All for today - I will post a short one for you on monday to let you all know how I am surviving,
have tuesday off, work again wednesday and then a stretch off again.....
Have a great weekend!!!
Tera

Batik create - blue

Good Morning,
Its a beautiful morning here - nice and cool and I am just a bit on the sleepy side.....
But there are errands to run and house to clean so I can have some stamping time!!!!
Todays card was made earlier this week for a challenge over at Stamp TV - http://www.stamptv.ning.com/
The challenge was for 'batik' .
The lily and koi arre from Gina K and the phrase is from Unity Stamps.
I love this phrase!!!!
You really need to check out Stamp TV - tons of great tutorials and challenges every day of the week - I am seriously out of control with doing challenges lately!!! They also have an awsome gallery with some great inspiration/enabling for Gina K stamps!!


All for today - my poor mutt is whining at the door so off we go for our morning walk....
Take Care
Tera

Blue Callas

Hallo,
Just a quick note this am - I did this card for a challenge over at Stamp TV . Can you tell that I am getting addicted to challenges!!!! This one was a color challenge - blue and tan.
The stamp is from Gina K and colored with copics. I pulled out these little blue dot thingys to add as an embellishment and found that they looked pretty cute in the vase too :)
Well I had better get going - going to get some chores done, walk the pooch, excersise and try to get in a good nap before working tonight....
Wish me luck!!!
Take Care
Tera

Bookmarks

Hallo,
Just a quick post tonight - dinner is on the stove but I wanted to get this up - DD is doing most of the cooking tonight anyway :).
I have 2 bookmarks to show you tonight. They were done for a challenge over at Stamp TV. The bookmark is made of clear cardstock (accually some clear acrylic that came as packaging with a stamp set - I have a bunch of these and don't often use them - they work the same as the clear cardstock).
I stamped on them with staz-on and then stamped images onto cardstock, colored, cut out and glued onto the book mark. All stamps are from Gina K.
The one with the Orchid is about 1.5 inches wide and 3 inches long and the Koi one is about 2.5 inches wide and 3 inches long.
I managed to get a bunch of stuff done here at home today - yard work, house work, groceries and even managed a bit of stampin time.
I am going to prepost for tomorrow as I have a few things that need to get done and a good long nap to take - tomorrow night will be the first night shift I have worked in a really loooonnnggg time so I don't want to be too sleepy come 3 am.....


All for now - Take Care
Tera

Pink and green Wedding

Hallo,
Did this card up yesterday - colored it while watching a movie (one of those romantic ones out DH's don't like to watch :)
I did this one for this weeks challenge over at Mo's - http://www.mosdigitalchallenge.blogspot.com/. The challenge was to use 1 ribbon, 2 brads or buttons and 3 different DP's..
The brads are the pearl centers of the tissue paper flowers.
Talk about using up some stash - the DP comes from a packet that I recieved from Papertrey Ink on the cruise I went on over 2 years ago.....
I have lots of errands to do today so I better get my rear in gear.... :)
Take Care
Tera

Red Koi

Hallo,
This card may look familiar but when I was making yesterdays I couldn't decide which way I wanted to finish it so as I often do - I did both....
I used 2 shades of gray, a cuttlebug folder, and some black ink for the cuttled layers. The middle cuttlebug layer is coordinations cardstock and was sanded over the texture to get the lighter tone.
I used stamps from Flourishes and this weeks challenge over at Flourishes blog was a sketch - check it out here - www.flourishes.org/blog/
I colored the main image with copics. All the layers are edged with a red mettalic pen.
All for tonight - Take Care
Tera

Gray Black Koi

Hallo,

A short little post today - managed to finish up a quick card to show you as I work today.

I was thinking of this card for awhile and the color combination has been calling me too. I used the same Cuttlebug folder on all 3 layers and a sketch from this week FTTC63 over at Flourishes. Check it out here - www.flourishes.or/blog/
The stamps are from Flourishes too.

The base layer was a light gray cardstock and I inked the folder with gray ink. The middle layer was darker gray cardstock with white ink over the texture. The next layer I used light gray cardstock with black ink on the folder.


The main image is colored mostly with cool gray copic markers and a pop of orange and reds for the Koi fish - cut with a Spellbinders labels die and one larger for the black layer.
All for tonight - Take Care
Tera

Rusty Leaves

Hallo,
Most of my time at the craft table today was spent working on my briefcase project and I didn't take pics...but I did manage to get one card made to show you.
I colored this image last night on the couch planning to use it for this weeks challenge over at Mo's. This week is a sketch. Check out all the great ideas for this sketch and Mo's images here -www.mosdigitalchallenge.blogspot.com

I colored this image with copics and cut it out with a Nesties circle die.
It is layered onto 2 pieces of DP from other projects and a piece of a Technique Junkie technique called 'faux rusty metal'. The leaf is cut with a Spellbinders die out of a scrap of the faux rusty metal...
All for today and all for me until friday....I work the next 2 days and am off again on friday.
Next week should prove interesting - I am going back to working night shift on a regular basis (something I haven't done in about 12 years, since the kiddos were little). I always liked night shift better but when the kids were little it got to be impossible. Now that they are older.......
Wish me luck!!!
Take Care
Tera

Oriental Inchies

Hallo,

A quick post for you this am....busy weekend at work but overall not too crazy....I recieved the last of the plants I ordered for this spring in the mail on saturday so I need to get those planted today. I am going to try some roses....haven't tried roses before so we'll see how they do.

I have 2 cards for you today both along the same theme. Over at the 'Inchie Inklings' blog they have started sketch challenges and these 2 cards are for this weeks sketch.

Check it out here - www.ellenhutson.typepad.com/inchie_inklings/


These images may also look familar as I used the same ones for the twinchie challenge over at Flourishes.

The stamps are from Flourishes - colored with copics. I cut out a couple fish and a waterlily to layer 'out-of-the-box' style.

The tan layer is coordinations cardstock run through a cuttlebug folder and then sanded - edged with gold mettalic pen.
Next layer is some oriental washi paper edged with the gold mettalic pen.
Base layer is stamped with oriental script.





In this second card I also ran the base cardstock through the cuttlebug folder and highlighted the texture with walnut stain distress ink.
I decided to get a bit more dramatic with the second card and added a black inchie to the mix and some black and white washi paper.
All for today - off to play in the dirt....
Take Care
Tera

Flourishes Twinchie

Hallo,

Wow did I get some yard work done yesterday.....no housework - durn....

I had planned on only doing about an hours worth of yard work but as I was putting away the rake and such a Fed Ex truck delivered some of the plants I had ordered....sooo I decided to plant them.....didn't really want to do housework anyway.....but that means I have to get some done today. I do need to do just a bit more yard work though....

I did this card for the release week challenge over at Flourishes - www.flourishes.org/blog/




This challenge was to do 'Twinchies'

2 inch by 2 inch piece to be the focus of your card.

I used the waterlily and koi fish from the 'Waterlilies' set - coloreed with copics. I then went over the fish with an embossing pen and embossed with clear powder. I then overstamped the twinchie with a backround of oriental writing in walnut stain distress ink. Then I added a small coin charm.
I cut the twinchie with a spellbinders label die that was the perfect size and edged it with gold mettalic pen.
I then cut the spellbinders layer beneath which was perfect size to layer the twinchie.....and layered that to some oriental washi paper. Lastly I added some flat backed pearls.



I hadn't done twinchies in quite awhile so this was a fun challenge!!!
All for today - yard and housework awaits......
See you on Monday - I work the weekend again....
Take Care
Tera

A walk in the park

Hallo,
Once again I will try to get my chores done today - didn't get far yesterday - dentist appointment, got groceries, had lunch with my good friend Pat, a bit of time at the craft table, some time at my DS's track meet.......the chores are still here for me today :).
This was a card I made for a sketch challenge on Stamp TV.
All stamps are from Gina K - colored with copics and prismacolor pencils. I cut the main image with a Spellbinders label die. The corner pieces are also a Spellbinders die. Basic gray DP onto blue base cardstock....

Alright - off I go to walk the dog and do a bit of yard work, house work ect and some craft time too.....
Take Care
Tera

Hurry Home

Hallo,
Just a short little post today - I have been blurfin for over an hour and it high time I get some stuff done :)
I finished this card off yesterday just in time for My Favorite Things wednesday sketch challenge.
I love this little cutie!!!! She is colored with copics and cut out with one of my new Spellbinders dies - using an out of the box technique....
I layered her onto some BG purple flowered DP and distressed the edges a bit. Added some pearl brads - in truth initially to cover up a boo boo but then liked how it looked so added some more... :)
All for this morning - off to the dentist, then some yard work and house work and I have an idea for another card rolling around in my brain....one of the challenges over at Flourishes this week is Twinchies......
Take Care
Tera

White Lace and promises....

a wish for luck and we're on our way.....
?did I just date myself a bit?.....
?do I have you singing it too...?
Hallo,
Bit stir crazy this am - off to work again - I have worked 4 out of the last 5 days and am really feelin' it :) But I have the next 4 days off!!!!
Woohooo!!!!
I did this card as a possible for the Gina K Guest Design Team contest and even though I didn't use it for that, I really like how it turned out.
All stamps are from Gina K. - backround is stamped with white ink. Main image is colored with copics.
Off I go - Back with more fun tomorrow :)
Take Care
Tera

Heidi, Pooh, and Narinia

Hallo,

I have my last 2 cards for the Gina K Guest Design Team contest to show you tonight. To find out more pop in here - http://www.blog.ginakdesigns.com/

The challenge was to use stamp sets from last months release and for inspiration to pick a children's book.

I got 4 stamp sets last release so these are my third and fourth cards.

This first card was inspired by Heidi. Both my kids were born in Germany when we were stationed there . Their babysitter while I worked was a German lady named Marga. At 3 and 1/2 (when we moved back stateside) my DD was quite a talker and her german was almost as good as her english. Marga used to read Heidi to her in german and I used to read it to her in english.

The set featured here is 'Sending Sunshine' and I also used stamps from the 'Happy Camper' set. The scene is colored with copics and prismacolor pencils.

I also used a MS punch, some amber colored rhinestones, and a cream colored piece of ribbon.

My second card has duo inspiration as you may have figured out.....Both Pooh and Narnia have great lessons about friendship and helping others and I was trying to figure how which story to use and how all day yesterday (in between being crazy busy at work) and about bedtime last night the lightbulb came on inside my head - I am surprised I was able to sleep with the idea floating around in there but work made sure I was tired enough yesterday :)

Needless to say I was up early this am to make this card.

My kiddos were really into Pooh and Tigger - so much so that when we went for walks in the woods I used to tell them to be on the lookout for Pooh and Tigger (worked great for when they got a bit bored ). One year on my DD's birthday we borrowed a Tigger halloween costume - adult sized - from a friend. I made arrangements with a young lady who babysat for us to ride out to our favorite walking path ahead of us and as the kids and I were walking in the woods - lo and behold the kids FOUND Tigger - it was one of my greatest ideas EVER!!!!!! Tigger then came to my DD's Birthday party for a bit with the kids. We had soooo much fun!!!!

Narnia came around only a short time later as it will always be one of my very favorite storys.

The kids loved Narnia and the story spurred many new hiding places when they played hide and seek in the house ( we came home from Germany with a couple big shrunks).

This card features the 'Friends' set and I also used the lamppost from 'Elegant Post'

I was determined to keep this very simple. I used a reverse mask to sponge the 'sign' with gray ink and then stamped the phrase in red, the main panel is edged in red and then layered to gray textured cardstock....and that was going to be - it - but my hands kept itching for just a liiitttle bit more.....finally I took a clear rhinestone and colored it with a matching red copic marker for the corner and quickly walked away to grab my camera.... :)

Looonngg post today......but I think I am done story telling for the day!!! :)

Take Care and Hope the rest of your weekend is fantastic!!!

Tera

Card 1 - GKD

Hallo,
I have another post for you today.
Below is a card I did for this months Design Team contest for Gina K.
The challenge was to make a card using a favorite children's book and one of the stamp sets released last month. Check out the contest here - www.blog.ginakdesigns.com
My main challenge was that I am working 4 of 5 days (12 hour shifts) that is the time frame for the challenge....
My other challenge is deciding which books to use - I am a bookaholic so therefore my kiddos had a ton of books - I finally just had to kinda close my eyes and point (after narrowing the pile down a bit...)
My first card was inspired by Peter Rabbit as you can tell by the photo to the right :).



Its only a small part of the book about Mamma rabbit knitting mittens
but I learned to knit when I was about 7 years old and My Mom and Grandma have always knitted and crocheted.
The card features the new set 'Nana's Needlework' and also uses the 'Lovely Labels' set.
First I used the lace doily to make the backround - white craft ink stamped onto dark cardstock and colored with chalks and then stamped again with white craft ink. It is a technique from Technique Junkies called 'backround burst extension'
The main image was stamped and colored with copics and then both panels edged with copper mettalic ink. I layered the top panel onto an old scrap of lace and embellished with pearls.





All for today - gotta get off to bed....more tomorrow....
Have a great weekend!!!!
Tera