Zetti ATC

I participated in a Zetti ATC swap which really gave me fits. I now know that I am not as spontaneously creative as I thought I was or could be! Check out this link for what zetti's typically look like. This is what I came up with ...

I spent a lot of time just going through my notebook of images of all my stamps trying to compose the card in my head - no can do!
I just grabbed some possibilities and kept working at it and I am still not 100% satisfied with it! So much for spontaneity! I do really like the quirkyness of this style so I am sure I will be trying this again in the near future.

CNY November 2008 shoebox swap

This is the card that I created for the SplitCoastStampers CNY November 2008 shoebox swap. My Stampin' Up demo, Joanne Tofte, demonstrated this template to us at an SU party. You can see another version on her blog. The card stands up like a teepee when open and folds flat to fit in a standard envelope.

Supplies:
2 4" square white card stock
1 4" square green card stock
1/2 3.75" square green card stock (cut on diagonal)
2"x3" white card stock
green ink
white ink
Versa Mark ink
Stampin' Up label punch
Stampin' Up Snow Swirled stamp set
2 silver brads
silver glitter embossing powder
Stamp-a-ma-jig

1. Stamp the two white 4" square card stock with snowflake stamps in green ink and stamp the 4" green square card stock with snowflake stamps in white ink.

2. Fold each 4" square card stock in half on the diagonal.

3. Glue the left half of the green square on top to the right half of the white square.

4. Glue the left half of the other white square on top to the right half of the green square.

5. Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the image with the long side of the card stock to the right, stamp the Christmas tree with VersaMark ink and emboss with silver glitter embossing powder.

6. Glue the green triangle to the front of the 2nd 4" square white card stock.

7. Stamp the word 'Joy' to the 2"x3" white card stock in green ink and punch out with SU label punch. Sponge green ink on edges and place silver brads on each end. Glue to front under tree.

8. Slit the back of the 1st 4" square white card stock to receive the right point of the 2nd 4" square white card stock so card will stand up like a teepee.

Aidan's birthday card

This is the birthday card that I created for my nephew, Aidan, for his 14th birthday. He was very disappointed when I told him that the ticket was only a decoration! He liked the card so much that he said he wanted to keep it!

The stamps are from Cornish Heritage Farms, Purple Onion Designs, TooMuchFun Rubberstamps, and Stampin' Up.

ATC swap

I made this card for an ATC swap called "Make Me Laugh". I am never sure if my work is up to par but I received a few comments that mine made people laugh the most. Excellent!

My cards tend to have some kind of movement and this one is no exception. The pumpkin head is hinged so that when you lift it up to the side, you see a photo of me! (I think that is why everyone laughed - so true!)

The pumpkinhead stamp is by Starving Artistamps and the saying by TooMuchFun Rubberstamps. For cardstock I used Stampin' Up basic black, whisper white and the designer paper is from Old World Stack. I also used Stampin' Up's spiral punch and added some fibers to a homemade tag.

I received some really funny ones in return and I thank everyone who participated with a special thanks to Diane for coordinating this swap!

Walking on campus

Betty sent me to a cool web site that maps out walking routes. Here is mine that I created on campus...



Now the trick is to actually walk this loop daily and keep track using the workout tools provided at MapMyWalk!

I'll have to take some photos of the route along the way - Cornell's campus is very pretty!

Faux Pocket Challenge

Here is the Faux Pocket Challenge card that I created from last Saturday's day of stamping fun! I brought 4 packets that included the precut cardstock and string that everyone had to use though they could use whatever else was handy in Diane's amazing stamping stash to finish their card. We all have such different tastes and of course we were all drooling over what the other's came up with! Here is the links to everyone's cards...
Diane
Jenn
Judy

This is the inside - as you can see, it is a Sweet 16 card that I will be giving to my Goddaughter (hopefully she won't see this before tomorrow!). She will cringe at the "Sweet" part so I tried to grunge it up a bit.

I used Stampin' Up cardstock (Chocolate Chip, Bliss Blue and Whisper White), Filigree background stamp, ink (Chocolate Chip and Brocade Blue), spiral and tab punches; Flourishes clear stamps, numbers stamps from Purple Onion Designs and two different size square punches.

Stamping fun at Diane's!

Judy, Jenn and I spent the day stamping with Diane at her house on Saturday - what fun! We each brought a project for the others to stamp then Judy had an extra project for us to do that she had left over from the last SplitCoast Central New York gathering in Syracuse. I also brought along a "challenge" packet where you had to use everything in the packet but could raid Diane's mega stash of stuff. We are all going to post that challenge tomorrow so you can compare them! Diane wanted to play with her new Cuttlebug 3x3 Combo Rose Frame so we made a very elegant card that I will save for someone's wedding or anniversary - very classy. Last but not least, we created four cards (one for each of us of course!) by Round Robin. Jenn started then passed the cards on to me, then on to Judy, then Diane and around again to create this....

We used Stampin' Up card stock (Gable Green, Only Orange, Tempting Turquoise, and White), punches and stamps. The saying is Tim Holtz's from Stampers Anonymous. The stem is corrugated and the center of the petals is a Prima flower. Cuuute!

Alcolhol Inks

I have been playing with alcohol inks that I bought at the 50% off sale at store location of GingerScraps. They are closing the store but keeping their web site.


These examples were created using: Bottle and Lettuce; Mushroom and Raisin; Ginger, Terra Cotta and Pesto; Denim, Latte and Mushroom; Currant and Caramel; Stonewashed, Red Pepper and Denim; Caramel, Ginger and Butterscotch

All examples used the Extender and I applied inks with cottonballs.

Where have I been?

Oops! I see I haven't posted in a while! I am finally healthy (knocking on wood) and am keeping busy. I was a judge for Odyssey of the Mind both in my region and for the New York State finals. They are always looking for more judges if you want to join me!

My friend Judy held a tutorial at her house for 3 of us to create a Jacob's Ladder out of 4"x4" coasters. I only put the background paper on it so far - eventually, I'll put some photos and whatnot on to finish it! (Judy - you need to post your example!)

I went to another stained glass class and used my microscope slides to create a pendant. Naturally, I have no idea where I put it so you can't see a picture of it! One of the other girls created a panel that was just gorgeous! She used shades of green glass and then put a patina on the solder to turn it black. I may have to make one for myself!

On April 26th, my friend Diane and I drove to Ransomville (north of Buffalo) to attend the first Western New York stamping day. Here is my ATC that I created for this gathering and for a Grunge swap through SplitCoast...

This is the shoebox project that I created for my table to put together...

I used a microscope slide for the base and I used background papers I created with alcohol inks for the punched out flowers. The third flower is just punched from Basic Grey patterned card stock. The background and Happy Birthday stamps are from Stampin' Up. I used Stickles and silver beads for the center of the flowers.

Unmounted stamps

What do you do when you are stuck at home on the couch with Bronchitis? (Yes, this is the second time this winter I got it!) You pull out all of your unmounted stamps, cut them out of their rubber sheets, and then paint the backs with Aileen's Tack It Over and Over. I counted over 190 stamps that I prepared this way - some only 1/4" tall!


These stamps came from Paper Artsy, Ma Vinci's Reliquary, Cornish Heritage Farms, Cherry Pie, Another Stamp Company, and Purple Onion Designs. I am waiting on an order from Viva Las Vegastamps - they had a Superbowl XLII special in February, 42% off.

Since unmounted stamps are half the price of mounted and they take up far less room, this is the way to go! I store them on plastic sheets in manila folders and have the stamped image of these sheets on top for reference. Some day I will have to count how many unmounted stamps I have in relation to the mounted ones and then compare the space each take up - no contest!!

What's in a name?

What Karen Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

CNY #7 6x6 Scrap pages swap

This is my first attempt at 6x6 scrap pages to swap for the CNY #7 gathering in Elmira, NY. There are 22 people in this swap and we will end up with the months of the year, holidays and special occasions! I need to buy an kewl album to showcase these!

The calendar is printed on a transparency and you can leave it as is, put a picture under it, or just take it off. The stamp set I used is Autumn Harvest from Stampin' Up. I stamped the images with brown Stazon ink and then watercolored them. The card stock is also from Stampin' Up - Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke, Pumpkin Pie and Shimmery Vanilla.

I destest making bows so I ended up with knots instead....66 of them!

ATC swap for CNY #7

This is the ATC (Artist Trading Card) that I created for a swap for the day of stamping of the Central New York Splitcoast stampers. We are gathering at the Arnot Mall in Elmira, NY February 2nd and I am by no means close to being ready!

I was signed up for another swap on ATCards.com where you had to use book pages somewhere on your ATC. I had a old english English dictionary that I found in the dorm room when I went to Oxford University's summer school with the National Trust for Historic Preservation way back in 1983. I stamped the pear image from Art Impressions on a dictionary page with black Stazon ink. Next, I cut out the image using a deckle sissors and then washed it with acrylic paints and Modpodged it. I glued the pear to an antiqued gold metallic paper, wrapped it with metallic fiber and adhered to final layer of SU mellow moss cardstock. I created enough to use for both swaps and a few extras for one to one trading.

This is my favorite ATC so far!

Christmas break

The university that I work at shuts down over Christmas (yeah for me!) so I get a week to visit with friends and family if the weather is not too bad. In the past, I have gone to Arlington, Texas to see my Godchildren and to Rochester, NY to visit friends and just hang out. This time I spent a few "girly days" with my cousins down in PA near Lake Wallenpaupak. Betty and I drove down to meet up with Rosemary and Donna and with drinks in hand, this is the project that I completed!

Since I used bits of mirror, mine is not a suncatcher and with that in mind, I picked out glass that really shows well when not seen through a window.

Betty also completed a beautiful piece that you can see in her blog. Her photo does not do the piece justice! (hmmmm, you would think to take a picture with it in the window....it's a suncatcher, no?!!!) As Rosemary would say..."Betty, what were you thinking?!"

Rosemary has a business of creating stained glass pieces. Her celtic crosses are gorgeous and check out this celestial lampshade!

I finally posted my stained glass panel because a friend of Betty's saw her suncatcher and wants to do one also. This reminded me that I had something else to brag about beside paper crafts! So it looks like another "girly weekend" is in my future for more stained glass crafting!

Manila File Folder Album

This "album" is actually a birthday card I made for my friend, Judy, from a folded manila file folder. I really enjoy making interactive cards and that really poses a challenge when I make ATC's that are only 2.5"x3.5"! This card is oversized and is quite easy to make - just follow along with the instructions from TayloredExpressions.


The tags slide out and Judy can add her favorite photos to each one. I changed this from an accordian album to a "book" album by using double sided tape on the back fold. I love the vintage feel to this which seems to be my current trend - distress everything!


I used 6"x6" Basic Grey papers, 12"x12" Old World Paper Stack, and Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip 8.5"x11" cardstock. Go to the A.C. Moore web site to print out their current coupon and then go buy some of these amazing papers!! I used Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip ink with stamps from Paperbag Studios, Autumn Leaves Clear Stamps and Stampin' Up.