THE ARTISTIC AVENUES

Friday girls last two Fridays!

     For the last two fridays, friday girls has been Linda E, Emily and myself. At first I thought I might cancel, but then I got inspired!!  I have the "In My little Korner" website bookmarked and happened to look. Kathy is soo talented. What I found was a lovely card made from a bag of  'stuff'! Here is her site... http://inmylittlekorner.blogspot.com/   Who doesn't have a bunch of 'stuff' that is too wonderful to throw away or 'stuff' that you 'might' use someday?? So Linda, Emily and I went home the first week with thoughts of planning our bags. Then we presented the bags and  last week we brought the finished cards that we made from 'stuff'!   

 

Oops.... Gracie was helping. Ribbon is a favorite... 

 

 

 

 This is my bag from Linda I got a holographic paper heart, lots of gold foil frames, embossed heart, red glitter paper, ribbons and so much more. I did 4 cards and could have done 2 more easily!  

  

Diana came over and we did the 'Don't postpone Joy as a joint effort. It is funky.Next one is the marbled paper and the heart on the holographic paper. Pretty easy, pretty paper.

This is really kind or garish, but I like it! The pearl paper is embossed. Everything but the music paper was in the bag!

 

Linda E really did some lovely cards. She came up with 7! The doily on this one was added extra, and she cut white foam  out to match the doily, which makes it nice and evenly raised.  Most of the rest was in the bag.

 Go figure typepad again.my font change



Here is the bag from Emily to Linda. Lots of little punched goodies. Strips of punched borders.  Hard to tell, but check out the rest of her cards!



This is about to drive me nuts. Typepad that is, my font changes and the margins change.. Yes, I did a help ticket and nothing helps...

 So Emily, tomorrow I will try this again and get your cards up. Linda has another pretty one too!









Another Friday Girl Challenge...

Happy Friday girls. Yes, we had another challenge last week. We needed a jumpstart! We've been bringing 'whatever' we want to do. Sometimes we get alot done sometimes we just visit.  The challenges make us 'think', or make us use our supplies. So this time we spontaneously said  just green and yellow! We all agreed and this is what we made.

 Emily did this card with punches. See the pretty swirls interlaced? She used more than one punch, notice the swirls, the corners, and the layered butterflys..

 

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Linda Freitas card. This is called a Double Dutch fold. She colored the teacup with twinkling H2 0's. It is really pearlescent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Elliotts card. This starts with an embossed background, then she used the new Spellbinder Romantic Rectangles set off with a piece of black inbetween the layers. The bird in the cage is a cute sticker. The cage is attaced to a chain & a brad at the top. At the base is another spellbinder tag. This is really sweet! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my green and yellow card. This time I used a square card embellished with MS punched borders, Spellbinders lacy circle and an embossed circle. The butterfly is from Our Daily Bread stamps and it was colored with copics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I got carried away and did more! Hope you have fun looking!

                                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cards and such....

Title nearly always confuse me!! So we have 'Cards and such...' Such what??? I am not sure, I guess whatever I feel like putting in here! Maybe Such... Art??   

 

 

 

 

 This one got BIG.. This is the Grand Calibur Labels 6 card base. Then I added the Scallop circles and two sizes of the Butterfly motif. The flowers are the Spiral blossom and Spiral blossom two. All of the dies are Spellbinders. Butterflies are from Mariannes.  

  

Two more cards made with the Just Rite Medallion die cut. The butterfliy circle is a Just Rite stamp. Love this set. The beautiful die cut behind is the Fluer di lis from Spellbinders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is she tooo cute... Loli and Poppi from Susannas custom art and card design.. Hope I got that right!  The banner is digital and the lacy circle is from Spellbinders.

 

  

This is Lolli (If I remember right), isn't she cute?

I colored with copics and  raised the wings and some of the flowers. Of course there is lots of glitter! I used Spellbinders 23 in red and a smaller size in lime. Lolli is on the Fluer di lis die cut.

 

 

 

  Go have some fun!! Think I will take some pictures!

                    

A couple minor changes...

I couldn't think of anything else for the heading this morning so here I go with a big long post and probably (if I follow the ideas in my head), nothing will match up! I have pictures of cards first, then a book, then my first page in project life.   I really did make

Easter cards, although they were not stamped this year. 
What prompted me to make changes to my blog is everytime I post a card, I will try to tell you what I used. I was trying to find information on a lovely card this morning and it was posted from etsy, google, tumbler or flicker, and there wasn't anything available. How disappointing.. So if you go to my pinterest boards from now on, if there is no info, I won't pin. Yes, I pin alot!  A blurry picture of my screen!

So.. the card above was stamped with one of the Scripture stamp sets from Our Daily Bread. The flowers were made with the Bitty Blossom die from Spellbinder & the blue frame is a cricut cut from fancy frames.  Oops, nearly forgot the new M'bossibilities folder named elite.  The paper is an older paper from my minds eye.  Pardon if my capital letters aren' t in the right place!
Another medallion stamped image from Just Rite stamps. Used the matching die, also from Just Rite, to cut the medallion. The white (behind the medallion) is a Marianne die, the red is Spellbinders labels 22 & the last one is lacy squares. All this is on black patterned paper embellished with the rose. Like the bitty blossom better. This is a bigger 'rose' die. The next four lavendar cards are for a ministry. This is a green cardstock base with a leftover green patterned paper, then the layered digital floral paper and lastly the lavendar frame from Cricut. It is embellished with flowers from the Cricut 'Flower Shoppe' cartridge. These can be just 1" in size. Really like the versatility of the cartridge. Lots of leaves included.

 

 

 

Easy card using three Labels 23 dies from Spellbinder in three staggering sizes. The verse is from Our Daily Bread Designs. And the paper used is a 12x12 'glitzy' paper pad from Micheals.

I used the same 'glitzy' patterned paper for this card. Added the Beaded oval, scalloped oval and petite die cuts from Spellbinders. The image is from Flourishes. Sweet peas. I used my copics to color.   The font size won't stay uniform... what fun. Thank you typepad..

 

One more lavendar card . This is a square card on a rhubarb base, then layered with an embossed paper and a smaller white. The dies are Spellbinders Fluer (square) and a regular circle in purple, then the Spellbinder with the Picot edge. There are lots of MS 'branches' punched around the flower. Did that make any sense??? Then I added tule with glizty stuff instead of the usual bow. The image is a flower from Fred she said. Yes, but run the name altogether and it is Fredshesaid. I love her digital stamps.

 

 

OMGoodness!

It has been a month since I posted. ... What can I say ?  All of March and already into April! Friday girls did some journaling. I worked on an existing book. I started to post it, but when I looked at the photos it was missing LOTS of 'stuff'. There was a ton of blank space! So I added to one page and here we go....The finished page first. W

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The base 8x10 format is from a Teesha Moore tutorial. Okay, I see more places to add, although some 'white space does give the eye a place to rest!

Journal Page II

          This is going to be a really really quick post today, but I wanted to show the new 'serendipity' card.  To me, the technique 'serendipity' means using my scraps. Gives me great satisfaction to not throw away pretty bits of paper!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You remember one of those half done journal pages from the last post .... Use it for a card instead of a journal! The main idea is to enjoy the process. Loved making the backgrounds for a change.  Yes, I could've added solme color to the butterfly or maybe GLITTER!

One more thing... you could scan that 'journal page', save it to your computer,  print it on cardstock and use the design over and over!

Try something new!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journal Pages

Last friday the girls and I had fun making journal pages.   

 This is my actual journal for the 1st of this year. It is covered in pink paper and embellished with silk ribbons, fiber, fiber beads and charms. Here is my point.... now the inside pages (by the spine) are all stained... yes, my ink leaked through. So maybe make your page and attach it to your beloved journal later!

The journal we followed a video we found on Pinterest... It is listed under my Art Journal board. It is simply gessoed paper, stamped, alcohol inked .... watch the video it is pretty cool!  This is a close up of  my page.   Used a combination of Painter pens and  Sharpie poster paints. Use the water based ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Emilys journal done on a canvas. Think she said the words were hard to outline on canvas.Emily did this one on Friday.  She said she planned to use this for a book cover.

 

The 3 below are just barely started. They are on watercolor paper.

Typepad Typepad

Typepad can you hear me....My friends just let me say typepad reformats everything. The last post puts the last sentence in the middle of the page. The type size is even changed in the last paragraph. I didn't go re-edit this time, but know that the errors and (notice the card description) are not where they were supposed to be. I would rather share fun stuff that re-edit already good pages..... Just keep that in mind for further posts!

Lets do one more picture! These are the Just Rite Starburst Medallions 

One Simple Act

So this is going to be a rather long post and hopefully you will enjoy! I thought a long time about telling this, but decided that if I thought it was nice maybe you would too. It started at Christmas, I got a book from another 'Linda' that has been a friend since kindergarten! How many of us can say that and how wonderful that really is since we are 2000 miles apart. Let me insert here that yes, I have 3 friends named Linda! So Linda from Iowa sent me a book that just wasn't of interest to me. I like Follet, Grisham, Flynn and mysteries or biographies. This book is by Debbie Mac Comber, a romantic novelist. OK. With Lindas, glowing account, I decided to read One Simple Act. http://www.debbiemacomber.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=nnp&pageID=274 Here you can read the forward and some short excerpts from the book.  I was going to send the Amazon link, but this is the one that came up, so you can really get a feel for it.

So, I told a friend about the book. She got one AND put one on her kindle. Now she has bought more and sent them to her sisters-in-law.

I immediately wanted Friday girls to have one each. So I went to buy them at Amazon. Decided to check out Barnes & Noble. One was $7.99 and as I was taking it to the checkout, I found the 75% off table! They were $4.98. I bought several. I even mailed one to my 16 year old Grandson.  He usually reads war stories, yep, really complicated American history. Anyway, what is the chances of me finding this book at a discount in a big store?  In the book we talk about Gods 'nudges'. I believe that this was one of them.

These are from Just Rite botanical stamp set. I mentioned my addiction to these stamps before! So pretty. The 'Faith' scripture  is from Create with TLC.

They are digital images. I photoshop the size and put 3 on a page so I can use my spellbinders labels. http://createwithtlc-createwithtlc.blogspot.com/ Here is her link. Perfect for this. Also the wood mounted scripture stamps from Our Daily Bread design are wonderful. http://www.ourdailybreaddesigns.com/index.html 

Look for our Altered journal page next!





Oh the cards, these could be some of Gods nudges too. We've done cards for the nursing home for about 7 years now. Usually just Christmas cards. I have lots of pretty embellishments that just need to be on cards that could lift a spirit. So with my many scripture stamps and glittery paper, flowers, ribbons and jewels I am going to try a church ministry. My goal is 100 cards.... we'll see, then I'll try to fill a need.  Now that I said all this I am committed!

Creativity same day... what is the chance of that?

This will be a quick post just to finish up with my Black and Whites.

 

 

 







Pretty basic cards.... Add a "Thanks" or any sentiment and you are set. Or WAIT..... there could be a twist!   How easy is this?

 Yes, these are the same cards. I changed the orientation of a couple and added the hearts, ribbons, flowers, script and the rose!

Time for dinner!                                                                                                                                                             

 

 

Creativity in action!

I promise no new recpies for awhile, although look for my Guantis (Italian Cookies) soon. I have a good picture of them, but I need a new one, alas, I must cook them so I can eat them! For today we have some cards .....I started with some glittery pink and blue paper from Micheals.

 

Used a variety of butterfly dies. The big ones are from an older cuttlebug set. There were 4 small embossing folders and 1 butterfly die cut. The others are from Mariannes and My favorite things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The last one with the hearts isn't quite done, and these last 2 were done with a Madeline paper pack  from Prima. All have such nice spring colors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now After the lovely pinks, we are on to Black and white and more cards with strips! The big difference now is that I am obsessed with the little botanical butterfly stamps from Just Rite stamps.l

This started because I needed a stash of Thank you cards...

 

The background is another Just rite Stamp. It is the new Scroll.

 

 

Then.............

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not a 'Food Blog' #2

This is an easy week-night dinner. I wanted to post this cheesy gooey picture on pinterest, but how unfair would that be without the recipie??  

 

HOT SAUSAGE SANDWICHES

    1 Pound ground beef

     3 Italian Sausage links....I perfer hot, but mild is good too!

     1 jar pizza sauce

      16 ounces mozarella cheese ( I add cheddar pieces or velveeta) .

       2 loaves french bread cut lengthwise.

      Remove casings from sausage. Add ground beef to skillet with sausages and crumble with a fork. Brown till no color remains. Drain excess. Add whole jar of pizza sauce. Simmer, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes.

Lay out 2 lengths of foil horizontally and overlapping in the center. I long piece won't wrap all the way around the bread. If you have counter space lay out both loaves of bread, one on each of the prepared foils. Spoon mixture evenly over each split loaf. Sprinkle cheese using half for each loaf. Wrap the sides and ends of the foil around the bread. Bake at 350o for about 35 minutes.   ..... Look at all that gooey cheese.... Yum. Serves 4-6 (2 loaves).

One more idea, since there is just 2 of us at home now I bake one one night and the other the next night. Or I give it to my daughter or we just eat alot!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year!
We had a nice new years day, we went to see the movie War Horse. It was a good family movie.. Take kleenex.
For Christmas I got a book from my friend Linda in Iowa. It is by Debbie Macomber, called One Simple Act. Linda sent me a note and told me this is one of the best books she had ever read. I agree. Another of the 'get kleenex' books.
Now the Gratitude Journal. Think I will send Linda one too! One thing does lead to another.
2012 has to be a good year!

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS & MORE!

Ever hear of Bokeh? Bokeh lights, or the' way a lens renders out of focus lights'. How about blurred lights?? Fun making your own, fun photographing your own... These are some of mine from Christmas tree lights around town.

Totally missed here. These could've been car lights..

 

If  you drive around, move the camera at the same time you can get intresting effects. Then you can pretend to be a good photographer!

For the record I used a download from the lucky nine. http://theluckynine.deviantart.com/art/color-bokeh-textures-pack-106393407?q=boost:popular+in:resources/textures+bokeh&qo=76 I am hoping this works for you. There are lots of brushes, textures and art at Deviant art. Take a look!

So this is what you do in photoshop with a Bokeh effect. Pretty cool & not bad for a lady with a patch over one eye!

This is Diana, my daughter and we both wish you the happiest holiday. Remember our Lord and Savior was born this day and give thanks for his supreme gift.

Thanks to all

       Mary S

These were awesome! Down the street from us, so festive. The whole block was decorated.

 

It is looking like Christmas!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!

I decided to post a couple of photos of Christmas cards that I made or the especially cute ones at the top were made by Linda Elliott.

 

I probably could make Christmas cards all year!  The Red and Green combo was done in strips of decorative papers with a label with greeting across the middle. I embellished with Spellbinders new Poinsetta die, ribbons and glitter. Easy and nice to use up your paper bits!

 The gold cards are 2 variations using Just Rite Rejoice stamp set, and the larger card features the new scroll background stamp. Both are bordered by the Spellbinder Beaded Oval die. I am addicted to die cuts! I think I mentioned that before.

These little 'jolly guys somehow got stuck inbetween . Both have embellishments made from punched 1" circles. Talk about mindless entertainment. Punch away! The 'string of lights' die is from http://allthatscraps.com/  I also like her balloon dies!

Who says pink and green can't be for Christmas? This was a glittery 4x6 card stack I got from Em for Christmas. In case I missed the point, these are the 'strip' cards too.

 

 

Here we go....... These are just a few that we took to the nursing home Friday.

Just had to do the backs!

 

Thanks for visiting........

Mary S

Not a food blog... but....

 YUMMY!

Potato Soup....

Not big on potato soup, but it was cold and this was sooo good.

The original recpie calls for 1 16 oz. bag of hash browns. Pretty easy and good... BUT this time I had potatoes that needed to be used.. So I peeled either 4 or 5  medium sized ones. I cut them up in about 1/4's.  Put them in a pot of water to boil. About 25 minutes.

NOT a food blog. Remember that.

Won't make you watch me peel potatoes either...

Cut up about 1/2 an onion and fry in butter. yum. Set aside.

Wait for potatoes.  Okay.... drain potatoes. Mash alittle...like, leave some little chunkies. I didn't want baby food or mush. Add 2 Cups of milk.. I added in stages so that it wouldn't get runny. Add a can of cream of celery soup (yeah really), add a 3/4 can chicken broth (more if you like a thin soup.) Last add 3/4 cup of velveeta cheese.  No  I didn't measure, yes, their could be more. Cheddar or the mexi-cheese blend would work too. Oh be brave, use 2 cheeses.... Dont forget the onions, some salt and pepper. Let it cook about 10 minutes.  Stay close and stir often!    

 Crescent rolls from a tube, easy peasy.   Pre-heat your oven and put this in  while  stirring your soup .

 

 

 

 

 

I Keep Putting this off!

Yes I do keep avoiding this post. I have been 'pinning'. Gosh, that opens a whole new world! The Friday Girls have 230 cards ready for the nursing home. Here is just a sample. Linda E brought over 2 extra tables, stickers, cut out pieces for the center step cards, etc;. It was awesome!

Emily brought punches, and I had Spellbinders. Sometimes everyone brings a cutting machine and their dies.  I guess I have it easy, (except for cleaning the house beforehand), as I don't have to transport anything!

This shows even more cards. Of course, we had to recount and rebag after we took the pictures!

 

 

 

 

Who would post this???

This morning I just feel like catching up and maybe, recording life! November has been a month of changes. We moved after nearly 13 years in the same house! Things feel really different.. like, I want to reach for a cup above the coffee pot and its not in that cupboard! Or I want to go straight down the hall to my craft room like I did, but now I have to turn left.  The master closet is big and Al & I have both  gotten lost coming out of there. I won't tell  you where I wound up! Just the craziness of moving!       

 

 

Nice computer room... This is where I am right now...! The furniture is built in so I had to store mine.

This is Gracie... I know the pictures  are slightly blurry, but it is hard to catch a moving dog! She has rolled her food dish around like a skateboard from day one! She puts one foot in the dish and runs with it. Tile is a Must! Oh, and she growls the whole time. She likes to do it while I am on the phone.

                                                                                                                                                        

 Some things never change!

This is so Doug and Shelby can see the house!

 

SPOOKY

 

 

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO YOU! This is Linda Elliotts sticker card! Easy, easy, just add Spellbinders labels 18 to frame the sticker! Check out the snoopy little mouse!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another card with stickers and the new spider web die from Mariannes creations. This is one of the cards I sent to my grandchildren.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a quick camera shot of another one that I mailed. This is simply a new die cut, and then glued to orange card.

 

 

 

 

Emilys cute little kitty card. It is a discontinued die cut from Cuttlebugs Disney collection. Add a fleur de lis rectangle die cut and mount on a black card. Voila! An easy card. I forgot to photgraph the big BOO on the inside!

 

 

 

 

One of our Friday girls has difficulty now, making her cards and art. We got together Thursday and gave her a variety of cards, cardstock, stickers, and punched 'goodies', to make her life easier.

Maybe these will give you some inspiration for your own quick cards!

Emily and Diana looking at her new treasures!

 

 

 

Linda E, Emily and Linda F. I think we were waiting for Diana to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Freitas made all of the girls a fused glass candy dish. She made different colors and we got to choose the one we wanted. Looks like Diana was deciding on color in this picture!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are 3 cards that Linda F made for Diana. She can just mail, or keep as cool ideas.

 

 

The cat and pumpkins are from Outlines Rubberstamp company.

Who knew??? The next four are ones that I made from Outlines collage stamps. They are one of my favorites.

 

 

 

Once Upon a Springtime

I called a challenge for Peach, Torquise & Green. I am sure it sounded pretty unfair, but I had the Once Upon A Springtime paper by Graphic 45 and I wanted to play!!!

This was my first one, but not for the challenge. Of course I got to use new Spellbinders lacy squares for the little book on the front. It does open.

 

 

 

 

This one was for Emilys birthday.

 

 Of Course, I made an extra for me just in case.... In case of what? I can't give it to any of the Friday girls. So what do we do with all those fabulous cards that we make?

The Friday girls do Christmas and sometimes spring themed cards for a nursing home. We could do more for different organizations. If anyone has a suggestion let me know!

 

 

The Once upon a Springtime paper has the fairies at the top of the page. The fairies are intertwined in theme with the bunnies on the lower half of the page.

 This was my peach plus challenge!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Linda Elliotts challenge card.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was really hard to photo correctly.It is Linda F's card and she did the entire top half of the card in acetate. She stamped a pattern on the acetate too. You can barely see it. Nice card!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be sure and click on the picture you like they will pop up for better viewing!

Inside Emilys card













 

 

 

            

This is the inside of Dianas card challenge. Notice the punched corners!

Sorry Diana, I didn't get the cover of the card photographed. 

 Emilys Peach green and torquoise card. Check out the swinging star! She used a flexible strip of plastic recycled from a Spellbinder cover!!

Time for the Plum Challenge

One more post today. We have family coming soon for a barbeque but I think I have time to show you the plum and green challenge cards. 

 

 

 

 Emilys punched 'plum' trees are so cute!

 

 Below in the inside of Emilys card.

 

                                                                                              









Linda E's Iris card. She used her spellbinders labels twenty. That is a favorite of mine. Isn't this a pretty card?

















                                                                                                 

 

 

 

 

Marys plum and green. Yes, I called this color. Had no idea what to do, but seemed to work out with my little used stamp! And, I used the spellbinders Fluer De Lis rectangle cut for a frame and attached to a purple card.

 

 

I think this came from Amazing paper Grace blog. 



 

Side view image.





















Linda Freitas's Halloween card for the         challenge.      



 

 

  

Creative Challenges!

 

 

This is one of my cards for the "Yellow and Orange" Challenge. I had so much fun doing these that I did nine.

 

They are 4x4. I used the Classic scallop circle, Crown, and Lacy circle Spellbinders. The center for the first card "Celebrate" is a Just Rite Stamp.

 Thank you circle on the second card was done on the computer.

 

 

 

 

  I really was addicted! Worked on them all week .

 

 

 

 

 

Emilys Sunflower card. We both used the flowers for the card centers! Friday girls were making 'flowers' the last couple weeks. Nice to have some made ahead for our projects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 Dianas 'Daisies'. Too cute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of " Too Cute" , this is Linda Freitas's Shaker card.

The next is the inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Linda Elliotts classic fall card.  Very pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am So far behind posting again!  Are you ready for Blue? This is our ' blue'  Challenge which was before the 'yellow' challenge, I think??? And I have a Plum and Green challenge to post that was before either one!

Allen and I are going to walk our 25 minute trek this morning so I will share with you the blue and maybe I will take my camera on our walk. Maybe..

 

 Emilys Lt. Blue. She used a Judikins Bollieo and a 'mermaid' stamp for her card. She used her Spellbinders labels 10. I almost thought she didn't use a punch this time! She always does. Then I looked again, and there is a corner punch and the little tiny crab!

 

 

Dianas Wolf card. She split the face. It is so cool. The inside was done, but I didn't get a picture of it. She is the one that called the 'Blue" challenge. 

 

 

Linda Freitas 'Pocket card'. There is a tutorial online for this, although I might be wrong on the title.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

I love Linda E's beautiful bird card! I wish the colors were photographed better. The soft blues combined with white. She used a bird sticker as a focal point and added several dies. She used the spellbinder lacey circle behind the circle and the Flourish from Mariannes creatables for the background. Again I am not sure what is behind the bird?

It is too early to call her and ask!

 

 

 

 This is Marys lighthouse. Hopefully perfectly blue and perfect to send along to someone who needs a thought.

 

 

The Order of Things!

The order of things does sound profound doesn't it? Its Monday morning so please don't worry, it isn't very enlighting at all. I was just trying to think of a title to this next post. I am ready to post some of our fabulously creative cards and I realize I don' have all the photos. This is the White on White challenge and these have been a challenge for me to photograph so that you can see the detail.

 

This is Linda Freitas's card. It is simple, but elegant with a textured paper used for the background and the bib. Notice the embossing around the edge of the bib.

Nice for either a boy or a girl.

 

 

This is Diana uniquely folded card. The 'bride' in the center is wearing a veil. The infamous wonderful dryer sheet. The veil and the dress are embellished with jewels!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Elliotts features a lovely embossed background. Look again!! It is about 4 different embossed background strips. There are dots, snowfalkes swirls and a floral. A perfect way to set off the classic heart!

 

Sorry if it looks alittle 'pinky'. I wanted to darken the background so we could see the contrast.

 

 

 

 

 

Whites are not always
WHITE. This is a 'Grungy" white. Yes it is a stack on a variety of whites.

It is supposed to look like a tied love letter.

This is Marys (mine), and I used the Grand calibur and labels 11 for the base and the scalloped oval that is visable. I embellished with a butterfly and antique flowers.

All of use do decorate the insides of our cards. This one has a matching oval with a generic saying.

We do make one card to keep and one card for a drawing. Each one of us gets one card and our own with the challenge. So we decorate to insides so the person who wins it can actually send it to someone else.

 

 

Emilys punched and embossed white on white card. She used the 'around the page' branches from MS.

 

The bird detail in the center is so perfect!

 

Hope this larger format on the cards is not to imposing. I was wanting to expose the detail. 

 

Next challenge is just BLUE. 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Early

I am totally hooked on these little Center Step cards!

So we (Friday Girls) started our Christmas cards early. We used the Spellbinders 2010 ornament dies.                                                          

    Mix theSpellbinder Ornament dies, scallop circles, circles and other nestabilities with the Just Rite stamps. Perfect fit everytime!  

 

I love this wreath and the birds. This is a digital stamp from http://fred-she-said-store.blogspot.com/

Try some of the digital stamps, you will love them!

 

  The butterfly Center Step is done with papers and stickers from Kanban. It is so versatile and so easy!

Soft and Sweet, then Bold and Bright!

    

 

  GRACIE ..she  might be waiting for  Dad  to get home from work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emilys Pink and Brown card. Nice vintage looking card complete with a subtle overlay of netting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda E's Ice Cream Cone. She used a piece from an old light fixture for the texture of the cone! The background is Spellbinders rectangle fluer di lis.

Pretty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                Linda Freitas Pink and Brown "True Friends"card. This is stunning and such nice detail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marys Pink and Brown. I used a couple "Doily" motifs in brown vellum. I added the layered center with the rolled roses and leaf.

 

 

 

 

 

I forgot which week we did which challenge, but this is the Red & Rust. This is probably the hardest challenge for me yet! 

 During this time one of the digital list that I am on had a progressive challenge.

I have alot of rusted elements in my backyard and had photographed them. The vertical stripe is actual rusted metal rods. Think Al had them for welding. Anyway the 2 frames and butterfly are images from Deviant art. They are from 'Metal Momma collection. The 'scrolled' layer is a postcard. All of this was finished off with red or rust cardstock, stamped with a sunflower, ribboned and then layered using the labels four and my Grand Calibur.  I liked it when I finally finished.

                                                                                  



Emilys car, steampunk card!









                                                                                  Dianas Stampscapes cabins. Wish it photographed better.

This really is long and narrow!





 

 

 

Linda Elliotts Red and Rust. I would say that it is what you see, but, it is much more. She made her own background paper. She rusted an original piece of suede paper. Very cool. Another one that the photo just doesn't do it justice!





 

                                                                                 



Linda Freitas pretty Fall  themed card. She handmade her 'rust' background too. She used a medley of alcohol inks. Then embellished with t

the maple leaves and chiffon bow!







The next week is a birthday and a challenge of Plum, Green and Pink. After that we did White on White! And coming up is a Blue challenge. Wow!! I just might catch up pretty soon!

Birthday Lunch for Linda

 

 

 

Suprise!  This is Cupcake. She really is a happy dog. She just has that Cattle dog 'look'. Try Not feeding her when she is hungry.... She has a built in timer and she will stare you down. She is 10 1/2 now so she has glaucoma.  Isn't age a thrill!

 

 

 

 

We had another birthday this week. Speaking of 'age', Linda celebrated another birthday. I can't really get to verbal about the 'age' thing as mine is about to change again next week.  Gets harder and harder to suprise any of us. We pretty much decided to go to a convention next year instead of celebrating birthdays.

She spotted us here. And she is moving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                                                       Yes, she really has a pink wand and a blue feathered, jeweled tiara. .... Ok Big lots.   She is happy spreading her fairy dust. I can just tell!

 

 

Carl brought Diana. He was just about to leave.

Linda loves little birds and Emily picked our our super fancy birdhouse centerpiece complete with a birdie!

 

 

 

 

Not sure about her talking to the bird??

(Kissing the bird?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Elliott and Linda Freitas. Linda Freitas baked Linda a cake. The picture of Linda with her cake was... well, lets say, the photographer needs more practice. So instead I included a simple piece of cake.

 

I might add Linda made her a gluten free cake. She added apples as filling and a luscious cream cheese frosting.

 

 

See what happens! This is Emily. Never never call her chicken... She knew this would end up here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving right on from lunch, dessert, and presents, we went shopping. Isn't that prettty much required for a group of women?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Friday, another birthday and time together.

This July is 3 years that the Friday girls have been gathering, creating, laughing, eating and sharing a special friendship. Yes life is good.

Un-Birthday Party!

 

 

 

 

 

Zoeie and Cupcake are part of the Friday Girls too.  Gracie was captivated by the sound of a leaking balloon! Too cute.  Later Cupcake got the balloon and popped what was left of it. She was too fast for my camera!

 

 

 

 

The banner said "Happy Birthday Emily" an it is sooo cute. Sorry I didn't get a close up.  Linda E has the Spellbinders pendant die. We made them in various bright colors and edged them in equally bright lace!

 

Yes, Emily is suprised!!

Remember her REAL birthday is in December.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                             

 

 

 

Linda Elliott and Mary . Started the morning

 with baked French toast, bacon and an orange julius.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Emily with card from Linda Freitas                               

Yes, Gracie is a real Friday girl! Em needed help opening her present!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emily standing, and Diana next to Emily, Linda F, and Linda Elliott. I had to bribe her to turn around!

  

Then we made some cards, actually, we cut bases for the 'center step' cards. We have decided that they will be nice for the people at the nursing home for Christmas. The 'Center step' car displays nicely and doesn't fall over like some cards.  Just an idea. So we cut about 30 bases then it was

time to eat! Linda F fixed our (or my) favorite, and Antipasto salad.  Of course there was dessert and ice cream after that......

                                                                                                                    Time for a nap!

Monochromatic Challenge

Of course I can't remember where I left off posting. I have some cards from previous challenges that aren't up yet. Try to work those in with these. Did I mention that we had an "Un-Birthday party" last Friday? I will get to that too! In the meantime, I love playing with Gracie!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First the Monochromatic cards.... Mine is the fall color resist. Easy. Inked a background stamp with Versamark, stamped and then embossed in clear. Swiped on the reds and rusty hinge Distress inks, just to blend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emilys in the lavender nature scene using an embossing folder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Lindas Elliotts Golden Angel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Really, its Orange!!

  Same day. Soo cute . So its alittle blurry, its a moving dog!

 

 

 

 

 

Starting the Orange and Pink Challenge.

We are doing two cards now and doing an exchange. One for one. I got Linda Freitas's card and it is so cute.

She used the Reverse Wonky Rectangle die behind the owl. Not sure I would have thought of that! Look at the little owl repeated on the bottom.

On the last post Linda E did the center step with the butterfly in the center. This time Linda F featured a side step card.

 

 

Emilys card. She uses punches in nearly everything she does. Notice she used an embossing folder for the background and a Spellbinder label for the card front.

I noticed this time all of us used our stamps!

 

 

 

 

 Just says party doesn't it? This is Linda E's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "For you" card is mine. I just got the Sweet Pea stamp set from Flourishes.com. I used the copic markers and intended to do a close up of the flowers until I saw how many times I actuall went out of the lines! Love the stamp. It is a nice size, and it has a smaller single sweet pea in the set. The background paper I had was perfect too!

 

Just because I am doing the blog, I am going to add a couple extra cards I did this week. I am on a roll, they are orange! The one photo didn't turn out so will add it next time.

 

 

 

 

  Single poppy. Yes, it is bordered by the same orange and pink background.  

Monochromatics next week!

Orange & Pink Challenge

 

  Still playing!!  Gracie loves her squeaky ball!

Today I am going to try to add the previous weeks cards for our color challenges.

Lets start, as promised with Emilys Lime, Torquoise & any third color challenge. Purple is Ems.This is her card of the kitty bordered with two of Martha Stewarts 'around the page' punches. She used only a portion of each punch around the kitty! Then she repeated it behind the bordered 'footprints' square.

                                                                                        

 

 

 Love the Spellbinder Birdcage Die.

 

 This is Linda E's card for the Black & white challenge. Her "splash of color choice is yellow"

 

And her inside finishes it off!

 

 

Another of Linda E's is a pretty "Center Step" card for the lime, black & gray challenge.

 

 

  

 

 

Just realized that I am missing one of Linda F's cards! Oh no, will catch up soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Next one is  Emilys..... This is for the Black & White challenge with that 'splash' of lime! One color seems to lead to  more of that color! Or all of the girls here, sort of , think alike. Two of us with the Black & white challenge used the 'yellow' as our 'splash of color'.

 

Look for the Orange! Next Post!