Thumping Out West Style

Well, the challenge from the June 2014 stamp release from Gina K. Designs was to do a card using the thumping technique. I just had to play again and hope you don't mind but once again it is a more masculine card, but still there are many ladies who love horses too, so guess it could be for them as well. And, many children would like this type of card as well.

I used the thumping technique on the solid horses from Gina K. Designs Out West 2 set which is illustrated by Theresa Momber. The sentiment is from the original Out West set which is now retired. I love how the two sets go so well together. I used pattern paper from the Red Carpet paper pack by Gina K. Designs. I finished the card by layering the scene and sentiments onto red and brown card stock. To dress it up a bit more I added a fiber rope to resemble a lasso and also some red paper CANDI dots. 

Well, guess that is my last post for this week. I hope ya'll are having a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Trails and God bless,
Verna

The Saddle

What a wonderful stamp set I recently won in a blog hop and I just could not wait to get back home from our bus tour so I could work with it. It is called Out West and goes so well with Out West 2 set which are both illustrated by Theresa Momber and are Gina K. Designs stamp sets. However, the Out West set has been discontinued so it was so thrilling to be the lucky one to win the set. It will go so nice to work with both sets together in the future. However, for this card I am just using the images from the Out West original set.

I made the background paper by swiping ink with the Gina K. Designs Prickley Pear, Ocean Mist and Sweet Mango ink pads onto ivory card stock but trying to go lightly so only a little of the color would cover the paper. Then I overstamped the cactus image, cattle skull and horseshoe images onto this prepared background to create my pattern paper.

I stamped the saddle onto ivory card stock with Gina K Designs black ink and colored it with my Bic markers. The one Bic brown marker is almost dried up but I liked the way it looked as it made the saddle to look more weathered to my thinking. I also sponged some Ocean Mist color onto the outside of the image. Then I layered this to brown paper and placed in the lower right corner. The sentiment was also stamped in black ink onto the same ivory ink sponged paper and also layered onto the brown card stock.

The pattern paper I made was layered to brown card stock. I wanted a pop of color more so I added the orange fiber and on each end of the fiber added a metal ribbon clasp to create a charm before adding the panel to the Ocean Mist card stock base.

I am entering this card into the Mix It Up Monday challenge at Stamp TV which required us to do a lot of stamping on our card. I am also adding this card to the Mod Squad Blog Challenge for this week which asks for us to use a charm on the creations we do.

Well, hope you will have a wonderful weekend. Mine has nothing major planned for it that I know of but I have a hunch I will enjoy resting up from that quick two day bus trip we took on a tour of the ways we receive our electrical power. It involved going to wind farms, seeing a gassification plant, and other power plants all located around Beulah and Bismarck, North Dakota. Because of the heavy rains we could not go in the coal mine. We also went to the North Dakota state capitol located at Bismarck and did some touring there as well as the Heritage Museum there. It involved a lot of bus riding, and for me I am glad it is over as by the end of the trip I was very sore from sitting so much in those cramped quarters. But it was good that we experienced it and we met some friends we knew and managed to make several new ones as well. And, to help pass the time we played games on the bus and also watched some movies. So that was our adventure.

Thanks for stopping and always love to see your comments.

God bless,
Verna

Cactus Flowers

I was so itching to make a card that I just finally took the time to do it. I can't believe I was missing it so much after not doing a card for over a week.  The grandsons have kept me busy but today I got a wee break so I took advantage of it.

I am in need of birthday cards soon so thought I would work on one today using the Out West 2 set by Theresa Momber and also the smallest circle flower image from the Simple Flowers set by Tami Mayberry. Those little flowers were stamped in black and then I fussy cut around them so that so just a hint of the black showed.

I made it into a shaped card using the Spellbinder Grand Ovals set by using the two smallest oval dies. The brayer painted background was cut out with the largest of the Classic Ovals Large set. I love how those match up right in sequence with the Grand Ovals. And, although I cannot use the largest oval die from the Grand Ovals set I still can use all the others with my Big Kick.

I mentioned the brayer painted background in the above paragraph. I did that by taking a rubber brayer and instead of rolling it on the glossy white paper I used it much like a paint brush picking up colors randomly from different colors of dye ink to paint a colorful look. This one I did quite some time ago and had always planned to use it in a card. I thought it resembled a hot sizzling desert scene when I added the cactus images to it.

My sentiment was placed on the acrylic block so that it went the shape of the oval. I love that about the clear stamps. One can bend them differently than just the straight way they were manufactured. Gives one more versatility with them that way.

I popped the bigger cacti which was stamped on white paper. Then I stamped the smallest circle flower images from the Simple Flowers set in black ink and fussy cut around them so that just a smidgen of the black showed around the white petals. In the center of each flower I took a Viva Sunny Yellow Pearl Pen to add color to the center of each flower which I then popped up onto the cacti. I even did some research online to see what colors the flowers on the cacti should be, so I hope this is a fair resemblance.

I am entering this into the Stamp TV Mix It Up Monday challenge for this week in which we are to use a popped flower.I am also entering this into the Repeat Impressions DCC618-Shaped or Fun Fold cards challenge hosted by Karen Hasheck.

Blueberry Jelly

Well, it is not raining and the sun is shining and since it is too wet still to bale the hay crop, Grandpa and the boys decided to go fishing. Hope they catch a few too. That may depend on how soon the three year (almost four) old can be patient. Many times that is the biggest factor as to when it is time to come home.

So finding myself a little extra time I decided it was a good time to make some Blueberry Jelly as my hubby is a big jelly and jam fan. I have lots of rhubarb so decided to make a recipe of jelly up with some of that and a can of blueberry pie filling and some Jello.

Not sure if many of you are jam or jelly fans, but just in case thought I would share the recipe with you.

Blueberry Jelly

5 c. rhubarb
5 cups sugar
1 can blueberry pie filling (may be regular or less sugar)
2 3 oz. raspberry Jello (I used sugar free)

Directions: Cook rhubarb and sugar together until the rhubarb is tender. Add the pie filling and heat through. While still hot add the Jello and mix well. Ladle it into jars and either refrigerate as is, add some wax over the top or process it in a hot water bath. You can use other kinds of pie filling and flavors of Jello too, if desired. I would think one could substitute Splenda for the sugar as well.

Well, that is my creativity for the day. Now I think while they are still gone, I might just put my feet up. For some reason that sounds very appealing. LOL I hope your day is going well too.

God bless,
Verna

Watercolor 101

Greetings to you on this rainy day. I guess it was a good day to stay inside and play and my grandson showed me how to do painting with watercolors like he learned how to do in daycare. So I took note of all the pointers he gave me and hopefully, soon can put my new found expertise to use.

Oh, he said these pictures are for Grandpa and I know he will surely love them too. We plan to put them on display when they are dry!

Other than that I have not nor do I plan to get much creativity done this week. I am just enjoying my grandsons who are visiting this week.

I hope all of you are having a great week as well. And, thanks for the comments always. I so appreciate them.

God bless, Verna

Happy Father's Day

This Sunday is Father's Day and I just yesterday realized I had not made a card for my hubby, so this morning I put my thinking cap on (sometimes it fits too!) and decided to go with a sea scene. And, yes, no seas or oceans near us but I am sure he will still love it.

My stamps of choice this time were from the Gina K. Designs By The Sea stamp set illustrated by Theresa Momber. The images were stamped on white card stock and then I colored them in with Spectrum Noir pens. However, the sky was sponged in with Momento Summer Sky ink.

 I made the wood grain background by making grooves using my Scor-Pal board and then swiped Gina K. Designs Warm Cocoa Brown and Charcoal Brown inks down it. I used a cream colored card stock for my wood base before I scored and swiped the inks.In the grooves I added some darker brown ink with an alcohol pen.

My porthole was created with circle dies from Cheery Lynn Designs. First I die cut my smaller circle in the wood grain background. Behind that I placed the scene. I took the next larger circle die and again cut a circle. I then placed the smaller circle die in the center so that when it was cut out it resembled a frame and glued it around the scene.

The sentiment was stamped on white card stock and I sponged around it with some Summer Sky blue ink. This was then layered onto some red card stock. My ribbon was added and over that I placed the sentiment. The card was finished by layering onto red card stock before adding it to the turquoise sea card stock base.

Oh, and the little wood bling were some that fell out of the wood star in the package of wood embellishments from Gina K. Designs in the nautical set. I thought they resembled wood pegs when I glued them with a bit of Ranger Glossy Accents. It worked as an adhesive for me. Yippee!

I am entering this card in the Mix It Up Monday challenge at StampTV and also in the Mod Squad Blog Challenge for this week.

I wish all the father's a wonderful and happy Father's Day and hopefully they can connect with their children and grandchildren in one way or another. I know I was blessed with a wonderful father and father-in-law and I miss them both greatly.  And, my husband is a great father and grandfather who has been equally blessed to have such wonderful children and grandchildren too!

Our grandsons are planning on staying with us for a week, so I am not sure how much creativity I will be doing this next week. So if I don't get back again for awhile, I hope your week is filled with God's blessings.

See you around soon!
Verna

Just Had to Play!

Well, I just had to play with this challenge as I have so many stamp images that had not seen any ink as well as lots of supplies that never were used either. My friend Darnell J. Knauss reached 500 followers so she decided that it was a very good reason to celebrate this milestone achievement. So on that note, she reached out to all her followers and created a challenge for the cause. And, heaven knows, I certainly have lots of things to pick from that have been purchased and were never used by me. So I guess it is about time I used this never-before-used-schtuff. And, the prizes she is offering are super fantastic! So who knows? I might just be lucky!

If you want to join in on this fun challenge you can read all about it HERE. I am sure many of you will have the qualifying requirements to join in if you are like me with lots of unused things in your supply cupboards. You have to be following her blog by one means or the other, too. 

For my card I chose to use an image from I Brake For Stamps of two friends sitting on a park bench after enjoying some shopping together. I purchased this stamp image many years ago and I had never used it, so I figured it was time to dig it out of my stash and put ink to it. Also used for the first time is the Scotch washi tape that I purchased and left sitting in a bag until the right moment came along. Well, that moment is now. I hope you like my friendship card. The sentiment is also from I Brake for Stamps but I do think that had seen some inking a time or two.

I used the Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers to color my image and it was first stamped with Gina K. Designs black ink. I love how that black ink is so bright and vivid and really makes such great impressions to follow. The little pearl hearts are from Hero Arts which I added to dress the card up a bit more.

Thanks Darnell! That was so fun to join in on your challenge and I wish you a wonderful and fun time looking at all the great things your followers have done. As soon as I get this posted I am off to look over a few of the projects as well. I am sure I will be very inspired.

And to all who have checked my blog and commented, I thank you. Have a wonderful week. As busy as I am lately, this may be the only post I get done this week.

God bless,
Verna

Mod Squad Blog Challenge Anniversary Style

Well, this week over at the Mod Squad Blog Challenge site they want anniversary cards made. I can always use a few of those from time to time so figured I would have one on hand for later when a special couple is celebrating. And the moderator hosting is Lee and of course, she is a big fan of pink. So I kept that in mind again with my card.

Sorry about the blurry photo. I guess with all that bling it shot too much light back and since I am not a photographer with experience I had no idea how to make it any better. So I guess you will have to bare with me as this is as good as it gets today!

For the background of my card I stamped the flowers on the Gina K. Designs Just Because duo set all around the white panel. Then I colored it in with my Spectrum Noir pens and also added some white gel pen to accent each flower somewhat. That had the affect of making the colors of the flowers a bit more muted in the center of each bloom.

I spent a lot of time looking for a Happy Anniversary sentiment and finally chose the one on the Bundles of Love set from Gina K. Designs. I wanted to add some flourish to the layered sentiment so I added lots of bling. I also added along each end part of the layered sentiment a portion of a die cut from the Heartfelt Creations Ornamental Add On HCD 738 set. After all my panels were layered I then took some black and white gingham ribbon to add to my card before I placed it on the white card stock base.

The bling around the sentiment is from Want 2 Scrap and the larger ones on the end are some I have had for eons. LOL I thought it about time to use a few of them as they seemed to fit quite nicely with the die cut.

Ever wonder why I use Gina K. Designs products so much? Well, to tell you the truth, I like them as they are great quality and she gives such fantastic extras with qualifying orders. And many of her sets are well coordinated so you can mix and match. Since I acquired so many incentive stamps by just ordering supplies, I have lots of wonderful things to work with. I only buy my card stock there now and get lots of my ribbons there as well. And she is always coming out with new things which she demonstrates how to use and of course, then I want them. She is a wonderful lady and goes the extra mile for her customers. And, I very much appreciate a company who puts their customers first.

Well, this will be all for me this week. I am going to have other family things to contend with for the rest of the week. I hope that your weekend will be fantastic, too! I am looking forward to mine.

God bless,
Verna

Friendship Card

This week at the Stamp TV Mix It Up Monday challenge we were once again asked to use bleach in our card designs. So I decided to make a card and play along.

I used the beautiful daisy and sentiment from the Especially for You duo set from Gina K. Designs. I inked the daisy with Versamark ink and stamped it on the Red Hot paper from Gina K. Designs. Then I added black embossing powder and heat set it. Using a paper stump I applied the bleach to the flower until I achieved the color I was seeking. I also used a punch to round the corners of my flower panel to match the frame.

The beautiful Silhouette frame was gifted to me by a friend so I naturally had to make use of that in my card. The pattern paper is from Gina K. Designs Watercolor Flowers paper pack. I also stamped the sentiment in Gina K. Designs black ink onto Mango card stock and layered it to the Red Hot and Black before placing it on the card panel. All the card stock is from the Pure Luxury line by Gina K. Designs.

Because the base of the card was black, I lined it with a light cream colored paper so that I could stamp a sentiment inside. 

It is a very busy week here with the early garden starting to produce and also getting ready for a baby shower for my daughter this weekend. So in between  baking and garden goods preparations I am glad I did manage to get a card entered into this week's challenge.

Everyone have a great week. And, thanks to all who stop in and leave a comment. I appreciate every one.

God bless,

Verna