Stamping, Painting, & Coloring make me Giggle

Blog Give-away at Crissy's Art & Heart

Hello!
I'm still on vacation, but I'm adding this quick post to tell you about an amazing blog give-away that Crissy is having! Please visit her here for a chance to win some great stuff!

I'll be posting again soon!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

OOO Message

Happy 4th! By now you may be recovering from the day and enjoying the peacefulness. :o)

I am on vacation for the next couple of weeks - Out Of Office!

Happy Crafting. Please stop by later and visit again! Thank you!!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Cross Town Thank You

Are you a White Sox fan or Cubs fan, or perhaps both? Not too many people are both. :o) Last week was the annual Chicago Cross Town Classic baseball series. This is a Thank You card for a group of people who planned an awesome team event using the Cross Town theme. The card holds one of those plastic gift cards - the size of a credit card.  Here's how I made it:

1. To determine the base card size, measure the envelop size and cut the base card 1/2" larger all around. For this card the envelop is 6 1/2" x 4 3/4", so the base card is 7" x 5 1/4"
2. I stamped images randomly in red, black and blue on the envelop, flap size up
3. Fold envelop in half. Fold base card in half
4. Cut flap of envelop at fold. Wet the left side and close
5. Lay the envelop inside the base card.  I adhered the right side first. Put your glue on the envelop and press the base card to your envelop
6. For the outside front panel piece, I downloaded the logos into a jpeg file and then inserted them into a power point file, changed the image to the size I wanted,  and repeated the images in a random pattern. NOTE: These are the applications I have on my PC. You can use what ever you have to get to the end result of a random pattern. I printed it on SU! card stock. I found this CS weight went through my printer easily.  The panel piece is cut 3 1/4" x 4 1/4". I then put it into a cuttle bug folder and ran it through my Cuttlebug machine.
7. Create extra sox and cub logos. Cut out with circle punch. Cut out layers for blue and  black larger circles.
8. Wrap twine around base card with open ends to the right (make sure you cut enough length to tie a bow - I cut mine 20") and adhere front panel piece to front of base card. The front panel will secure the twine.
9. Adhere the extra layered logos to the front of the card and it's ready for a gift card
10. Optional step:  Add a blank piece of card stock to the inside left for your message - computer generated, stamped, or handwritten. 3 1/4" x 4 1/4" works nicely.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Sporting Goods (retired)
Paper: Neenah Classic Solar White, Stampin' Up! whisper white 
Inks: Stampin' Up! really red, night of navy, basic black
Accessories: Stampin' Up! 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" circle punches, Cuttlebug Thank You template, twine

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

It's a Junior Jungle on Noah's Ark

I needed a baby card, and thought of Noah's Ark.

1. Cut glossy cardstock to 9 x 6 and fold in half to make 4 1/2 x 6 size card
2. Found a cartoon of the Ark on line and used it as a guide to draw an Ark for my animals
3. Cut two round holes for the windows. Cut out the front arch window with a craft knife
4. Cut out the Ark and added some color and boat lines with markers
5. Positioned the Ark on the base card and drew inside the windows with a pencil
6. For the animals, I used markers directly on the images, blending at least two colors on the stamp for depth and interest. Except the zebra image, I used a black ink pad. Stamped the animals on the base card
7. I then stippled some color in the windows. I didn't have to stay inside  the lines because the Ark would cover it :o)
8. I cut a strip of blue card stock to match the width of the base card and used decorative scissors to cut ripples for the ocean.  I added some motion to the ocean with markers and a white pen
9. I adhered the Ark, then the water and added the little bird last to led the way.   My le boo boo on this card.... I forgot to erase the pencil lines before I adhered the Ark. OOps!

Stamps: Junior Jungle ATC-Best of Dee Gruenig Collection
Paper: Stampin' Up! glossy white, creamy caramel, ballet blue
Inks: Blending Blox shades of gold, Marvy Matchables black
Accessories: Stampin' Up! 1 1/4" circle punch, markers ballet blue, close to cocoa, creamy caramel; craft knife, Marvy LePlumeII Markers 2, 6, 13, 16, 18, 29, 72,  stipple brush, decorative scissors, Prismacolor .005 Fine Line Marker, Inkssentials opaque pen

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

My FIRST Blog Award

I feel so honored! Stamping Sue picked me! Thank you Sue!! Stamping Sue is my Design Team mate from Sunday International. Please stop by and see her fabulous blog - Sue is so creative!!

With this award I am supposed list 10 things about myself and then pass it on to 7 others. Here are my things:

1. I am a women of Faith and strive to live my life with compassion for others
2. I enjoy summer because with it comes cookouts and spending more time with family and friends
3. I am an engineer through education, however my passion is art
4. I am from Michigan - I cheer for Lions and Tigers, and sometimes for Pistons
5. I had an awesome opportunity to work in India for three months.  It was a great personal and professional growth experience
6. I honestly do think I have too many stamps (but please do not tell anyone I said that out loud!)
7. It's a challenge for me to have one favorite - I like a variety of food, music, movies, colors, etc...
8. I have never had a broken bone
9. I had a horse growing up
10. I am an only child - spoiled, but not rotten (at least I don't think so)

Please visit these talented blogger's sites to see lots of creative, artistic ideas and projects and get inspired.

1. Anna - http://sweetmissdaisy.typepad.com/
2. Debbie - http://www.bzstampr.blogspot.com/
3. Dina - http://mamadinis.blogspot.com/
4. Jacki - http://thecardcastle.blogspot.com/
5. Monica - http://hambostamps.blogspot.com/
6. Sandy - http://auntiesandy.blogspot.com/
7. Shari - http://creativechatter.blogspot.com/

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

The ATC Live Trade was Fun!!

Last weekend I attended my very first ATC Live Trade and I had a ball!! The group is super - talented, sharing, fun, and just a lovely group of people. The time flew by. We laughed and laughed, and giggled. The manager had nerve enough to put us at the front of the store. :o)

I've added my new art sisters to Sites that I'm Inspired By... on my side bar. Please go check them out!!

Cute Companions

This card is made from a new set of Cute Companions stamp series. They are great for coloring. I'm starting with markers and will try water coloring next!

1. Stamped images on white card stock
2. Colored images with markers, alternating with light and dark colors in sections, blending before a color dried completely.
3. Cut flowers and flower pots out. Cut a rectangle around the bunny and wheel barrel.
4. Sponged blue ink around a cloud template for the sky and sponged green ink on the lower part of the card. Stamped some blades of grass around the bunny's feet and bottom of the wheel barrel. Used a corner punch to give a little interest to the corners.
5. Adhered decorative paper to the shorter side of the vertical base card. Added dots of purple with the markers to the decorative paper.
6. Adhered pots. Added flowers to just one on the end.
7. Adhered the main image on top of the decorative paper. Threaded a little floss through the button embellishments and adhered them.

      

Stamps: Cute Companions In the Garden Set
Paper:Stampin' Up! whisper white, Vertical Inspiration Foldover Card
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Accessories: Copic Markers, Marvy corner punch, Stampin' Up! cloud template (retired), embroidery floss, buttons from JoAnn, sponge

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Jungle Friends Tag and Gift Basket

   
I'm using those adorable ATC size Junior Jungle images on another project today. This is a quick and easy project to do - you can get it done right before the party. :o)

Tag:

1. I stippled blending blox around parameter of card, and added leaves on the front tag.
2. Using my markers, I colored directly on your images using more than one color to blend on the image and stamped on sticker paper. For the tiger, I added some black lines with the small tip of a black marker. I also darkened all their eyes with the black marker and the hippo's eye brows.
3. I used my printer to create the sentiment on the middle tag fold and stamped leaves around it.  I used a die cut to cut it out and adhered it.
4. I then stamped the little fly across the top and the sentiment on the last tag fold.
5. Before removing the backing from the sticker paper, I placed my animals in a pile trying to imagine what they would really look like piled up.  I then adhered them and added some plants around the bottom and drew a little grounding with a marker. Added ribbon and all done!

Gift Box:

1. I started with stippling on the whole box while it was flat.
2. I then stamped images at random.   As with the tag above; using my markers, I colored directly on your images using more than one color to blend on the image and stamped on the box. For each tiger, I added some black lines with the small tip of a black marker. I also darkened all their eyes with the black marker and the hippos eye brows.
3. I also stamped some white tissue paper with the large leaf and the blending blox

Stamps: NEW! Junior Jungle ATC-Best of Dee Gruenig Collection, Dee's Happy Birthday Vertical
Paper:Zig Zag Triple Tags, Handled Basket Die Cuts
Inks: Blending Blox  shades of caribbian, Marvy Matchables black
Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities tag die cuts, Marvy Brush Art Markers 10, 12, 60, 82, 110, Marvy LePlumeII Markers 1, 11, 46, stipple brush; Stampin' Up! ribbon

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

On the Green

I only used one stamp on this card - the clouds. Aren't they cute?!  This is actually a birthday card for my husband. He really enjoys golf, so I had to make him a golf card - I just had too!

1. I looked through my Cuttlebug templates to find the right one that looked like the little indents in golf balls. I found one close enough! Cut out a circle with a hand punch.
2. Drew a golf tee. I cut the same size circle in a piece of scrap paper and drew the tee under it to get the shape.
3. Using MIchelle Z's resist and brayer technique, I inked up the cloud in VersaMark and then in blue dye ink and stamped "in the sky." I repeated this three times.  I sprinkled clear embossing powder over the clouds and heat set.
4. Next, I colored the inside of the clouds with a VersaMark pen and sprinkled clear embossing powder over the clouds and heat set.
5. I masked my horizon line, and then used my brayer to color the sky blue. After a few moments I used a soft paper towel to wipe the ink off my clouds. TIP: When masking to create a straight line, line your mask paper up with the side edge of your paper you are brayering on.
6. I moved my mask over the sky and brayered the grass. I had a little bit of a gap, so I moved my paper up and used a sponge to fill in the gap.
7. I cut a little whole in the paper to stick my tee "in the grass," and drew a few blades around the tee with a marker.
8. Glued everything down. I used Crystal Lacquer to make sure the embellishment stayed on.

Stamps: Dee's small cloud
Paper:Stampin' Up! whisper white, handsome hunter; Memory Box Noteard
Inks: Stampin' Up! mellow moss, bliss blue (retired); VersaMark stamp pad
Accessories: VersaMark Pen, Stampin' Up! 1 1/4" circle punch, mellow moss marker & clear embossing powder, sponge, brayer, Crystal Lacquer , golf embellishment from my stash

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

My first ATC Trading Group!

 

I joined a local ATC Trading Group! I think it will be fun and also help me expand my artistic skills. Sharing a picture of my first batch of ATCs I'm taking (if you visit my blog, some will look familiar to you :o)). Today is my first meeting, but I have exchanged email, visited blogs,  and talked with some of the group. They a fun, talented group.  I hope someone will want to trade with me!!

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena