THE ARTISTIC AVENUES

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.