Blast Birthday Card

Note: If you are stopping in to go through the Gratitude Hop go here to find the Mr. Linky list. Have fun!



It's blast off time! This card's ready to leave orbit. It was made with a digital stamp set from Sweet 'n Sassy called, "Blast Off!". The challenge I used is from the same company's challenge blog, The Sweet Stop # SSS22(see the badge on my right sidebar). The challenge was to use any combination of red, black, and tan on your creation in addition to following the sketch.

I had the hardest time starting in on the coloring of the rocket. It took me a week to figure out what light source I wanted to do and then if it would look realistic. The latter really is what stopped me dead in my tracks. As I was finishing up the coloring on the second, no third ship (Ha Ha Ha), it dawned on me all I needed to do was go out and search on the internet for a rocket to look at as an inspiration. Nope, I haven't searched. I don't want to know now. I like my rocket wherever it might be cruising and whatever natural or supernatural light source it is reflecting. ;)

I used my favorite materials to make it. Prismacolor Markers, Cuttlebug folder, dimensionals foam adhesives and i {stick} papers (red line) tape

I got the idea for the planet from Amy Sheffer's card here. I decided not to emboss it since it was mostly covered by the rocket and sentiment.

Card Details
Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy "Blast Off" digital stamp
Ink: Prismacolor markers (PM 4, 10, 108, 110, 116, 121, 169)
Paper:Mohawk Smooth White Cardstock, LSS tan paper, Basic Black, Real Red
Accessories:Cuttlebug Dots and Spots EF, Black Button Thread, paper piercer, Marvy star punch, 1/16" hole punch, 1/8" hole punch, Offray Black grosgrain ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!

September Gratitude Hop 2009

font used from kevinandamanda.com free scrapbook font

Every once in a while, I pause. I wonder why I'm writing a blog and making cards and if it's fulfilling anything other than time spent.

Today I glanced at the Followers list on my blog. WOW! I am filled with so much gratitude. Whether you are intrigued, inspired, or amused, I deeply appreciate your networking with me on our interests. Whether we are all doing similar or different interests on our blog we are sharing ourselves in a community. Thank you.

So I began to ponder if I could find a way to show you I appreciate you! Here's my idea. I would like to have a blog hop in your honor. Nothing extra to make or create, just plan on signing up for a blog hop post so we can all "see" each other by blog hopping. It's a busy time of year for many so it really needs to be simple, right? I hope you'll allow me the opportunity to host you on this Gratitude Blog Hop.


Gratitude Hop September 30, 2009

Simple Rules:
1. Add your name and URL to Mr. Linky below. A special post is not required, but if you have something to post on the blog hop day, then combine it with the Gratitude Hop and post the specific URL.
2. If you have a special post add the person after you in Mr. linky to your post so those on the blog hop will have an easier time hopping. If a link is not there just refer back to Mr. Linky on this post and go to the next person on the list.



Meet back here on September 30, 2009 as early as 8AM Eastern Time. (For those who are going to do a special post for the hop, have it ready by that time). Start at the beginning of the list and take the links down the list.

Oh, see that bland black and white line art at the beginning of the post? It's a freebie from me to you. It's a thank you for coming to visit my blog through the Follow list. I'm having a little bit of fun on the digital canvas these days. If you decide to use it please give me, © Janelle of Rain Puddles Design blog 2009, credit. While the digi-stamp is very simple art it is still my art form and time, I would appreciate that you not redistribute it on your blog or through any other form. You may share a link to my blog if you want others to know about it. It would be really cool to see it on the blog hop! (but not required) ;) Paper piece it on a card or color it with digital papers, I hope you share it with us.

Off to a Princess Tea Party

I mentioned that I have a budding crafter in my house a couple of posts ago, and that she was making party hats to take to her friends birthday party. I was informed by my daughter that the hats are actually A hat and two planes which looking back at the pictures make more sense to me.

This weekend after sleeping and taking medications for a common cold, it really treats me harshly as I get older, I had enough energy to sit in my craft room for a short time with my daughter to make a birthday card for this friends birthday party. While she wrote "I love you" on a hand made heart I pulled this card together.



Have a great week!

Card Details:
Stamps: Swirls and Blossoms
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Prismacolor Markers (PM8, 18, 103, 167)
Paper: Mohawk Smooth White, LSS yellow, green and gray cardstock, SU! Pink Passion
Accessories: KaiserCrafts flower and round rhinestones, Cuttlekids crown die, Nestabilities classic circle and scallop circle dies, Offray Black grosgrain and pink organdy ribbon

Verve Release Week is Almost Over!

The big party is tonight! Hey! Did you know Verve is going to release 6 new sets of stamps over on SplitCoastStampers. Everyone is invited to join 9:00 ET.

I did a couple of cards for the Release Week Color Challenges.

I surprisingly didn't use Verve stamps for these cards, but this week has been a bit different for me anyway.

I was inspired by some of Amy Sheffer's recents posts and while I didn't have the energy to try and CASE them I wanted to work on the look with a CAS card. I used the Verve Release Week, Michelle's Color Challenge.



Card Details:
Stamps: SU Natures Wonders
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black,Prismacolor Markers (18, 23, 26, 153, 197#, Prismacolor Pencil #917, 944)
Paper: Cream, Mellow Yellow
Accessories: Retired Vanilla Hodgepodge, Offray Chocolate Satin ribbon, Dimensionals, Cuttlebug Textile EF

This next card is also a Verve Release Week Color Challenge from Diva Charmaine. I've been wanting to try the Alcohol Misting technique and the silhouette images from CTMH's Be Yourself fit the task. I love how these ladies came out!



Card Details:
Stamps: CTMH Be Yourself
Ink: Brillance Graphite Black, PITT India Ink pen, Prismacolor Markers (121, 12, 28, 37, 46, 95, 98, 128, 169, 170, 172, 201, 213)
Paper: Mohawk Smooth White, LSS Aqua
Accessories: Paper Piercer, Alcohol Mister, AC Rhinestones

Sweet Stop Saturday Sketch 21

I'm trying to branch out and get into some other challenges. Last month I had a blast with the Midnight Madness crafters and I'll definitely stop over there every once in a while for a challenge and unique tutorials. This month I decided to have some fun with the challenges at the Sweet Stop blog.

This adorable bear is from Sweet n' Sassy Stamps. I downloaded it a while ago and even had him all colored, but just haven't had the time to decorate him onto a card. Until now!



I tried something a bit different on this card. To make the layered brown paper match around the bear image I colored them with my Prismacolor markers. The brown paper offset behind the bear was all markers. After I colored the paper with my Dark Brown and Eggplant markers, I grabbed the leaf stamp I used on the card base and lightly covered it with rubbing alcohol and stamped onto the paper. It shows up as a light bleaching affect. I'll have to play with this technique a bit more.(You can click on the card to see a larger image and possibly the technique I'm trying to describe.)

Card Details:
Stamps: Digital Stamp "Leave Me Smiling" from Sweet n' Sassy, SU! Fantastic Foliage
Paper: Old Olive, Goldenrod from LSS, Mohawk Smooth White cardstock
Ink: LaserJet printout, Versamark, Prismacolor markers
Accessories: SU! texturz plate, paper piercer and DMC Brown Floss, Michael's "Dashes, Dots and Checks" Dbl-stitch ribbon

Prismacolor markers used: Cold Stone, Light Cerulean Blue, Cerulean Blue, Brick Beige, Dark Brown, Eggplant, Tan, Cinnamon Toast, Cool Grey 10%, Goldenrod, Spanish Orange.

Budding Crafter

I have a budding crafter in my house. It's my 4 year-old daughter. You can usually find her in the craft room with me once little brother is down for a nap. On Tuesday she had quickly made some party hats before getting hungry for snack time. She was making these hats for a birthday party of her BFF who is moving to the midwest with her family. My DD is pretty sad, but her spirits were lifted when she showed me three hats she had made to take for the party. So sweet.



I found them laying inside my Photo box waiting to be photographed tonight. So here is my sweet daughter's hats for all to see.




(I think the protruding paper on each side is the straps that would go around your head, just like the Burger King crown, et. al. style hat.)

New Border Frenzy

I had so much fun making the border on my MojoMonday sketch 103 card that I did it again!

I also decided it was time to try and write a tutorial. This border is a simple one so I assume it will be simple to write instructions about it. You be the judge!

Tutorial

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Materials:
Strip of cardstock 2 1/4" width and long enough for your project
Martha Stewart Loops Corner Punch
5/8" circle punch
Pencil and ruler
Ribbon

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Step 1: Draw a line 1 1/8-inch from edge of paper. I used a marker so the line would show up, but a pencil is suggested.

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Step 2: Start at one end of the cardstock and without opening up the corner guides on the MS Loopy Corner punch, slide the punch to the line until the side angle tips on each side of the loops are aligned with the line you made on the cardstock. Punch.

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Step 3: Slide the punch along the line being careful of the fragile loops just punched until the angle tip barely overlaps the punched out tip from the previous punch. (If you look closely you can see the small black area on the right side of the loops. This is the tip of the previous punch.)

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Punching completed! NOTE: Do not throw away the zigzag looking half that we usually throw away. This will be used as part of the layering.

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Step 4: Using the 5/8-inch circle punch make as many circles needed for your punched edge. Adhere them. I used mono-adhesive.

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Step 5: Align the zigzag half with the points to the loop half positioning as close or far away as desired. Adhere this piece to the dotted loopy half. Once you have the strip measured and trimmed to the length of you card or project use some ribbon to cover up the top edge of the strip. Add it to your project and you are finished.

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Variation:

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Mark line on paper, punch with Loopy Corner Punch just as you did in the main tutorial with the exception that you do not need to keep the zigzag punched out portion.

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Here's a closer look at the finished edge.

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Now hold the finished edge with the loops facing away from you and slide your Stampin' Up card slit punch over the pointed part between the loops sections. Position it so the top of the card slit vertically aligns with the tip to be punched off. I also move the punch around until it kissing the edge of the cardstock so its a smooth half circle when I'm done punching.

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Well that was a long tutorial. Thanks for staying with me through it all. Now I'm off to bed. I have to get some sleep sometime this week!

MojoMonday Delight

It is MojoMonday Contest Week! It's always fun to do Julee's sketches that she posts on Monday's but when it's contest week it's just a bit more fun than usual. Join in on the fun. You can find the details at the Mojo Monday blog.

I've been busy with my mom visiting and before that I was crazy busy cleaning my carpets so I had no time for creating in my art studio. All the fun sketches from Mojo turns 100 week are sitting on my computer desktop just waiting to get used and I pushed them aside when I realized it was contest week. So I'm back in the game and leaving a few dishes in the sink to give me more time to catch up.

Here is my card for this week's Mojo.



I don't know about you, but nothing gets my mojo flowing better than a new gadget, and the new Martha Stewart Loopy punches have been on my list since the first sighting this summer. In my pity party shopping spree after I saw my mom off on Monday, I picked up the MS Loopy corner punch (the edge punch was sold out). Tuesday I started to play around with it on a scrap piece of paper and I ended up using it on this card. I was shocked when the paper matched the ribbon from the shopping spree (Michael's $1 bin, but was on clearance for 50 cents!)

Hope you get the time to play along this week over at MojoMonday!

Card Details:
Stamps: Verve Psalm 37:4
Paper: LSS Mint Green, SU! Grays from Neutrals pack, Brocade Blue, Creamy Caramel, White card base
Ink: SU! Brocade Blue
Accessories: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and D'Vine Swirls EF, MS Loopy Corner punch, SU! Pretties Kit pearls, Michael's ribbon

A Happy Hostess Gift

I thought I'd make a quick post about a little thing I do when I have company come to stay at my house. It started in 2007 when my mom surprised me announcing that she would come and stay with us for 6 weeks when I gave birth to our son. Yes! Six whole weeks. It was so amazing and wonderful to have that support from my own mom. We had plenty of support already with my mother-in-law and church friends, but to have your own mom their to help, WOW!

I digress. I started to think about being away from my home for that long and wanted to show appreciation for her commitment so I filled a photo box with goodies and put it up in her room, complete with a big bow on it. I packed it with her favorite snacks and I believe some lotion, but I also added a set of small cards with envelopes and a book of stamps, so she could keep in contact with her family and friends back home. I knew this welcome gift needed to become a tradition.

Fast forward to today and I'm posting about a tray of goodies I made up on the 27th of August for a couple that brought my mom out as they traveled on their way to Oregon. We weren't sure that they were going to stay the night so I had a brown handled bag and curling ribbon ready to turn it into a to-go gift. They arrived early enough that they wanted to keep on the road, so the water and snacks did transfer over to the bag. I handed them the bag and grabbed my mom in return. (I'm keeping the lotion and gift set just in case they stay on the way back through to pick up my mom.)

It wasn't fancy, but it was fun to put together. Here's a couple of close-up photos.





What tradition's do you have when people come to visit? Cleaning your house in chaos does not count!

I'm seeing dots

Have you ever gone overboard on something and it be okay? Well today's card is a great example. The twist to September's first week of Viva La Verve is to use "little round things". I started out with rhinestones and eyelets and buttons to embellish this card, but once I got started with the scallop layers I had other things on my mind. Homemade Stickles! I remembered a tutorial from Julee over at Poetic Artistry where she used Crystal Effects and glitter to make Stickles. She dabbed on the mixture with a stylus to get that perfect round shape. Well that was the end of the easy way to embellish a card.



I worked and reworked on this card for a while and finally just decided it was late and I needed to get to bed. I think there are some areas that I would love to have had time to rework more but, this card is for a friend of mine who is getting out of the hospital on Friday.

(By the way, I've missed blogging and glad to be back. My last post I mentioned I'd show you my Verve Project Parade item and now have decided that my project didn't fit the theme, so I'm cooking up something else.)

Card Details:
Stamps: Verve "Hey There Sunshine"
Paper: Chocolate Chip, LSS Violet and Purple, Mohawk Smooth White
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip, Lovely Lilac
Accessories: Coluzzle circle, SU! Circle and slot punches, hole punch, Offray Delphinium and Lavendar Torch grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds with MS gel adhesive, Cinnamon Stickles, clear EB, Cuttlebug Dots and Spots EF, Stardust Jelly Roll pen