A Friend Retires

This weekend a good friend and co-worker is hanging up her stethoscope. I am just a little sad to see her leave. Her expertise will be missed in our Emergency Department. Our friendship will continue; I just won't be seeing her as often.

I chose this color scheme based on the first challenge at Online Card Classes Summer Card Camp 2. The class doesn't begin until July 8th, but  Kristina posted the first pre-class challenge using colors used on the card below.

These are not colors I would have thought to put together, but I really like the combination. They just say Summer to me. (Which, BTW, has not yet arrived to Washington State :(

Thanks for stopping by!

  

Supplies:
Stamps: Mixed Messages
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry and Smokey Shadow.
Ink: Aqua Mist, Melon Berry and Smokey Shadow.
Designer Paper: Melon Berry Pattern Pack
Dies: PTI: Cover Plate Twist, Bloom Builder 3, Framed Out #2; Memory Box: Butterfly Dance
Buttons: PTI

Papertrey May Blog Hop Challenge #3

This is my third entry for the PTI May Blog hop. Surprisingly, this was a difficult of the three entries, using colors that I don't normally put together. It took me longer than I care to admit to make this work, but in the end I am very pleased with the results.

(Ssee my two additional blog hop posts by clicking on the Freshwater Stamps header above.)

 

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI Floral Foliage, Framed Out #1 and #2 (and die)

Cardstock, Pattern Paper: PTI

Ink: PTI and Colorbox

Butterfly Die: Dancing Butterflies

Glossy Accents

Papertrey May Blog Hop Challenge #2

My Second entry for the PTI May Blog Hop. (Hope everyone is not tired of seeing Rosie Posie :)

(Please see my two additional blog posts by clicking on the Freshwater Stamps header above.)

Supplies:

Stamps: Rosie Posie, Rosie Posie 2 Step, Through the Trees

Cardstock, Ink: PTI

Pattern Paper: PTI Back & White Basics

Papertrey May Blog Hop Challenge #1

Time for another PTI Blog Hop. This month the challenge was to chose our favorite PTI floral set and one of the "Bouquet Builder Color Schemes" and create floral cards to our heart's content. 

The first challenge for me was to choose my favorite floral set. As I own more PTI floral sets than I care to admit publicly, it was a difficult choice. Instead, I chose sets that haven't seen much recent use.

(Please see my two additional blog posts by clicking on the Freshwater Stamps header above.)

Supplies:

Stamps, Daydreamer, Bountiful Banners

Cardstock, Ink: PTI

Dies: Limited Layers 1-3/4" ovals, Woodgrain Impression Plate

Vase: Marvy punch out from Wood Veneer Sticky Barc in Cherry

Pattern Paper: PTI and Basic Grey Knee Highs

PTI MIM - Beyond Paper Shaker Card

 I was incredibly excited to see the theme for this week's MIM. I saw Heather's video right after viewing the final video from the Online Card Class in which Jennifer McGuire also used aluminum and an embossing folder. Hmm...this had to be a sign for me to participate in this week's MIM! So I dug through my stash and found a package of Spellbinders colored aluminum that I purchased many years back. Then ran a piece of copper through my Big Shot using the Argyle Impression Plate to make this shaker card for a family member celebrating a big birthday in July! 

I think this black and copper theme is great for masculine cards. I worked with copper before the advent of home die cutters when we stamped an image on the copper, used a stylus to "deboss" the image and then took a small torch to it to change the color of the copper. It was my plan to heat this piece to change color, but to my surprise, using heat on this product simply burned off the copper coloring, revealing an aluminum base. (So I started over,,, but saved the aluminum for a later project).
I also dug out my black glossy card stock, which I have not used in awhile. It is the blackest of blacks and its shiny, slick surface is unforgiving. After several start-overs, I finally finished this entire card wearing gloves, which helped eliminate fingerprints, stray glue, etc.


Supplies:
Stamps: PTI A Little Argyle, Big Birthday Wishes

Card Stock: Black Glossy from Marcos, GinaK Pumpkin Spice (Card base)

Dies: PTI By the Numbers, Argyle Impression Plate

Ink: Encore Ultimate Metallic Copper.

Embossing Powder: Fine Line Copper

Sequins: Kelly Purkey at SSS

His and Hers Day 3 - Sympathy Cards

Anyone who crafts cards would tell you sympathy cards are one of the most difficult to create. I was very happy OCC covered this subject this week. Jennifer Rzasa did two videos covering a watercolor technique using Versamark ink, then pen-drawing in your image after watercoloring. The versamark resists the watercolor, making the lines of the image visible. The goal then is to pen over the watermark to make the image appear hand-drawn. Unfortunately, versamark ink did not work on my watercolor paper, but my Staz-on lines were so faint on the watercolor paper that I was still able to make line drawings after watercoloring. 

Please note the little knots on the ends of the twine - thank you Julie Ebersole!

Stamps: PTI Through the Trees, YOF: Rose, BB: Woodgrain, Botanical Silhouettes

Cardstock PTI; Watercolor Paper ProArt 140lb cold press

Watercolors: Angora

His & Hers Day Two

I am way behind with my homework. The His & Hers classes have proceeded this week without me, my focus on my work as our hospital goes "live" with a new electronic records system. Stress levels have been at an all time high, zapping any creative mojo by the end of the day. I will try to catch up a bit this weekend.

Day two of OCC brought many great tips from Jennifer, Shari Carroll and Cristina Kowalczyk. Their creative talent is so inspiring,  I want to try all their great tips and techniques. Today  I chose to use Jennifer's Kaleidoscope stamping technique to get three needed cards completed that I will need later this month. May is a very heavy birthday month for our family, with 6 birthdays and Mother's Day! This class was so timely, most techniques taught are fast and fun, yet produce striking results.

  

Supplies are PTI unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Feminine Card: Sending You, Women of Life, Birthday Basics Masculine Card: Leaf Prints, Birthday Bash Sentiments

Background text stamp: Judikins

Dies: PTI Headline Alphabet (mounted on PTI die cut coaster board, enhanced with Glossy Accents

They're Leaving on a Jet Plane!

Three of our grand kids are leaving tomorrow on their dream trip to Disneyland! Although I would love to be going with them, it wasn't in the cards this time. It doesn't mean that we can't send them with a little gift though. They've been busy doing extra chores around their house to earn their spending money, but what are grandparents for if they can't spoil them a little bit by supplementing their savings. :)

I wanted to give them each $20, but didn't want to just hand it to them. I did a quick Google search last night and found this great little tutorial/video for making a super-easy Money Card. So cute and quick!

And here they are:

       

Supplies used:
Stamps: PTI Tremendous Treats: Valentine
Memory Box card stock (white on inside), PTI card stock for die cuts
Designer paper: PTI, Cloud paper from Crate Paper Maggie Holmes
PTI Dies: Limitless Layers: Circles, Scallop border
MFT: Pinking edge die
Assorted Hearts: SSS Holiday Shapes die
EK Success: Larger scallop border punch
Copic Markers
Glossy Accents