Graduation Day for a Cool Guy!

Celebrating Graduation with his Mustang

A friend of mine asked for two graduation cards for high school grads.  This is the first of the two.  The young man loves his red Mustang so the card just had to pay tribute to the 'Stang, too!  The images are all colored with Copics...lots of red.  Below I will reveal the secret to this image.  The photo doesn't show it well, but the card base is a shiny black... almost like black patent leather. I used Spellbinders Wacky Squares for the pieces on the front, one in red glitter paper and the other silver metallic embossed with the Cuttlebug diamond plate embossing folder.

Close up of car after coloring from sketch

Sketch made with PhotoShop from a photo

I didn't have rubber or digital stamps of a Mustang and to take the time to draw one would take till his college graduation, so I went surfing for a photo I could turn into a sketch.  I've used this technique before with PhotoShop.  The photocopy effect will take it to a pencil drawing, then I erase all but the essential lines to keep the basic form.  Then I start to color. 

Happy Grad!

This happy grad image is from Kenny K and was a perfect reflection of this happy occasion in a young person's life! 

Inside of card...Headed for the Future!

Inside I used another Kenny K digital image to top off the whole theme of the card.  The young man hasn't seen the card yet, but I hope he likes it!  I made it 5 x 7 so it can slip into a frame, if he chooses.

Thanks again for stopping by!  It's been a busy week, but I do have a couple more cards to post soon.

Happy Graduation to your special high school and college grads! May they all find much success in the future for themselves as well as their communities.

Project Parts: 

Image: Kenny K 

Paper: Shiny, glitter and metallic papers from my stash.

Tools:  Spellbinders Wacky Squares dies, Copic Sketch markers, Cuttlebug Diamond Plate embossing folder. 

Remember me?

Hello, everyone!  No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, though lately I've been hanging on the edge!  We've been blessed with guests in our home, celebrating Mom's 80th birthday with a big party in Sioux City, IA, and opportunities to take wedding and portrait photos. On the other hand, I still have pain in my neck from the car accident in April and hassles with the insurance company.  So now we have an attorney.  

My mojo for cardmaking must not be totally AWOL because I still can't resist picking up a new Nestie now and then or downloading new images from my favorite designers.  I've been coloring so now it is time to put those cute images on cards.  

Here are three cards I've finished over the last couple of days:

I love this Sugar Nellie image and found it worked beautifully with the DCWV "The Performance" matstack. I kept the card pretty simple and flat for easy mailing.  The leaves and die cuts are Nesties and the pearl swirl is by Recollections.  The metal flower is Autumn Leaves "Scrap Metal" that I've had in my stash for a long time.

As always, I colored the image with Copics.  The shading on the image is already so beautiful so I have to really hold back and not overdo it!

This is a Mother's Day card that I didn't get finished in time, but I will be sure to hold on to it till next year.  I love this Kenny K image.  It takes me back to watching my mom back in the 50's and 60's (that's 1950's and 1960's) when she was home when we got home from school and did a whole lot of cooking for us five kids!

Again with the Copics!  The dp is from the DCWV Farmer's Market stack.  The homespun look caught the mood I was looking for.

Last night I made this card using "Lady of the Stars" by Crafts and Me.  The photo doesn't do justice to the beautiful dp from the DCWV "Lemon Flower" matstack. It is a beautifully embossed piece.  The yellow behind the image is coordinating glossy dp that I embossed with Cuttlebug Musical Flourish.  

I used Copics and kept the colors light and simple.  I covered the strings of of stars in the image with clear, grey and black rhinestones, also adding bling to her hair and wings.  The butterfly is by K & Co.  The acetate wings glare from the light in the photo.

So, there you have it!  Quite a variety of pieces, but that's what I do.  There are so many artists and styles that I love in this community that I just have to try them all!

I hope you are having a great week and I appreciate you taking the time to stop by. 

Card #3 for the Bachelorette Bash

Card #3, in the series of cards for my future daughter-in-law, has more to do with the Bachelorette Bash, to be held at a later date.  I used two images for this one.

On the front is "Aunt Flo" from Mo Manning.  She is colored with Copics and I made it as drab as I could.  The sentiment is my own -- creative, eh? The dp is wrinkled burlap scrapbook paper and a corduroy brad holds the sentiment tag.

She looks pretty grim............

This is the inside of the card.  I computer generated the "Partaaaay!" background. The image is from Kenny K's new wedding collection.  Quite the contrast. 

Colored with Copics, of course, and cut out with Nesties Labels Ten. 

This is Paula when she saw Aunt Flo on the front of the card.........

...... and when she saw the inside!

This is Paula's mother when she saw the front of the card............

....... and when she saw the inside! Yep, I got the reaction I was going for!

That is my series of cards for Paula's shower.  Now there is the wedding card to make.  That has to be really special!  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope this card brought you a chuckle or two, also.

Card #2 for Bridal Shower

Big thanks to everyone who posted comments here and on FB about yesterday's card for my future d-i-l.  Now here is the second card, which is the one I gave her. 

After I found the new wedding digis at Kenny K I just had to have them! This one is called "Wedding Dance" and I have seen Scott and Paula do this hip-bump.  It is so typical of the joy they show everyday.  The dp of wedding cakes and flutes is by The Paper Studio that I had just found at Hobby Lobby.  I used a paper doily, velvet embossed ribbon and a medallion from the Making Memories Black Tie collection.

The image is colored with Copics and sparkled with Spica gold on the tiara and p.o.b. (point of bump)

The inside sentiment is from the Printshop 21.  Like I've said before, I'm just not good at writing sentiments, so I'm happy when I can find one that is just right!

Paula liked this card, too, and mentioned the hip-bump action.  The wedding is on all our minds right now and everything that catches my eye is wedding related.  So, when you see Card #3 (hopefully tomorrow) there will be TWO images -- by two different artists.  Thanks again for stopping by.  Have a joy-filled week!

A Knock Out for Cancer

My dear friend Rhonda is fighting the battle for her life.  I met her over three years ago when she became my hair stylist.  Even then she had been through surgeries and chemo, yet beat the odds.  I have never met anyone as courageous and full of life as this beautiful woman.  She's a wife, a mom, a grandmother, a sister, and a friend to so many. Her son is serving in the Army in Afghanistan.  Rhonda has dedicated so much of her time and energy to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life here in southwest Missouri. 

At this time Rhonda is enduring extraordinary pain and discomfort with treatment that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.  Yet she holds on to memories and stories that make her laugh.  She can find so much to be thankful for through it all.  Her faith is so strong and her family so close and loving.  Rhonda's sister Tammy keeps us all informed through a wonderful online journal called caringbridge.org and writes with such love and thankfulness.  She has shared stories of their childhood that leave me laughing out loud.  Even though I didn't know Rhonda then I can see her love of life in that young girl of Tammy's stories. 

When I saw the Kenny K Challenge last week DT member Vanessa's card jumped out at me, so I totally cased it for a card for Rhonda.  It is just the thing that Rhonda would giggle about. 

This is "Strong Island" and she looks like she can take on anything, just like Rhonda. When Rhonda started this latest round of treatment I threatened to have her dye my hair pink in support.  She didn't recommend that, but I figured it was appropriate for this card! The touches of gold convey how precious this brave woman is to me. 

Rhonda, this is for you! I love you and miss you! And to Tammy, you are truly a blessing to Rhonda and the whole family.  We friends appreciate all you do to keep us posted on Rhonda's progress.  God bless you all!

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge # 37 --- 3-2-1 Recipe

This week I used the 3-2-1 recipe challenge at Kenny K's Krafty Girlz, and one of Kenny's terrific images, to make a birthday card for a very special 17-year-old, Haylee.  The challenge calls for 3 designer papers, 2 ribbons and 1 image. 

The designer papers are all from DCWV Belle Cafe stack.  I love, love these papers and found myself hoarding them! (Why do we do that?) But if I keep hoarding papers, just because I love them, then others don't get to enjoy them --- and I don't get to indulge in all the gorgeous new ones coming out every week! The 2 ribbons are layered and both are from the Making Memories Chloe collection, as are the buttons.  These were the perfect color match for the dp! As usual I colored the image before choosing the papers --- good thing they all matched!

The image is Kenny K's Uptown Angel.  I am so hooked on these fun images, the big eyes and exaggerated platform sneakers!  She is colored with Copics with silver gel pen accents.  Looking at my monitor here, her hair looks a bit reddish, but is not quite that red.  I used soft light browns (forgot to write the colors down) to try to match Haylee's hair color, which actually could have changed since I last saw her! But she does have long, gorgeous hair. And she is very athletic so looks just like this Uptown Angel --- except the feet! Haylee, your feet are NOT big!  LOL!

Inside is more of the fantastic dp of vintage buildings and a simple greeting.  Since I just mailed it off today I sure hope I remembered to sign it!  Yeah, I'm pretty sure I did!  Happy Birthday, Haylee!

Thanks for stopping by today.  For more of the Krafty Girlz hop on over to Kenny K's challenge blog.  Nothing but fun over there!

Bah! Humbug! Challenge #11 --- Metallic

The ladies at Bah! Humbug! love to come up with fun challenges for us.  They are always thrilled with the responses and surprised at how so many papercrafters tackle the even the most far out themes. I'll even forgive the whole CD/DVD thing, cuz the ladies at Humbug Hall are the greatest!  This week's challenge is metallic, as in gold, silver, and other metals, precious and semi-precious.  So, how about.......

HOT Metal????

Oh my Aunt Pitty Pat's pinafore!!! (How does that go, Ann?)

Yep, I went with a hot metallic theme, tho' I don't think it's the metallic papers that are hot here!  The image is Kenny K's "Mistletoe" digi.  I love these hot and spicy images and, believe me, I chose one of the milder flavors...... for now ;-)

The cardstocks are all metallic, even the red has a shimmer to it. 

Mistletoe is colored with Copics on GP 110# cs. For her red outfit I used R22, R27 and R29.  Shades of the C neutrals for the boots and stockings, and C00 for shading on the fur trim. Her skin is E0000 and E21.  I forgot to keep track of the colors for her hair. I used a silver metallic gel pen for the buckles on the boots and belt.

Inside I placed another panel with the holly Cuttlebug embossing folder.  The one on the front is pretty well hidden.  The sentiment is computer generated and from the Print Shop Pro Publisher. 

Yep, I am breaking out of my shell a bit. I love all the images I have and will be coloring until I'm 95 years old!  And finding images like these will make that ride all the more fun! I hope you enjoyed this card and be sure to travel over to Bah! Humbug! for fabulous projects and inspiring ideas.

Kenny K's Krafty Girlz Challenge #35

A few weeks ago I found and fell in love with Kenny K's funtastic images so, naturally I bought a few.  And, naturally, Kenny K's has a challenge blog with an awesome design team.  I saw some familiar faces there, too.  This card is the first I've posted to the challenge and they have a terrific sketch for this week. 

This is "Club Kid" and she looks so HOT!  These images are such great fun to color.  They make me feel 20 (or 30) years younger!  The dp is from my stash and was a coordinated set.  The flowers are Spare Parts by the Paper Studio.  I distressed all the edges to match the strategicly frayed rips in her jeans.

I used Copics for the image and fussy cut the image since it was on white cs and the card is in ivory.  Whenever I cut out an image I remember back to the days we had to cut out our paper doll clothes. That was one of my favorite activities! Do you ever feel like you are in your second childhood, coloring and cutting and pasting pretty pictures and papers? Don't ya just love it?! Oh yeah!

This is the sketch for this challenge.  I think this sketch is so pretty all by itself!

If Kenny K is new to you, too, then you owe it to yourself to take a little stroll at Kenny K Downloads.  I just might see you there!

I Think I'm Too Ooooollldd for This ,,,,,,,, OOPS!

It is just amazing how fast the digistamp market has grown! The world is full of brilliant artists. And I can always count on my dear friend Chrissie to lead me to more fun images than I can shake a Copics at! We discovered early in our friendship that we have much the same likes in images. She also makes awesome cards for several design teams and challenges. Last week my niece and I were exploring some of my favorite blogs and stopped dead in our tracks when we saw Chrissie's cards for the Sketch 'n' Stash challenge.  Both are terrific and Alexis and I both went crazy for the Kenny K images.  Well, we hopped right over and filled our shopping cart with several, including "Skate Chick" for this card.

This reminded me of the days I wanted to try in-line skates but never got around to it.  Actually, the bad luck I had with roller skates was a deterrent, too.  After I colored this image I envisioned bold colors and a simple layout.  I cut the serpentine curve on the red, aqua, and orange cs, then ran them as a unit through the Cuttlebug 5" x 7" Art Deco embossing folder.  The card base is black. It was easier to lay the colored pieces on top of the black than to try to make skinny curves to lay on top!  The two Nesties Wonky Squares are cut from the same black cs as the card base.

The image is colored with Copics with touches of silver metallic gel pens on the earrings and arm bands.  Opaque white adds action and shine highlights.  This image is great fun, and I have a few more to color. 

I have to say many thanks to Chrissie for her inspiration and encouragement.  Please pay her a visit.  You won't be disappointed.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I appreciate your time.