I pulled out my very favorite stamp for the caards today. The hydrangea is stamped on watercolor paper and used Distress Marker ink as paint for watercoloring. Each of the florettes got a small dot of yellow pearl paint.

First I used a dark dusty purple for bordering everything. The striped paper is a bit of stability in the sea of green matrix.

A brighter purple really livens up this card. The diagonal line between the two patterned papers creates a great dynamic.

When I diecut these two images I also embossed the edges. On one I sponged the distress ink around all the edges and on the other I left the die in place when sponging to create a white border.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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Imagine that, I actually made two cards that are exactly alike. As every time I have ever done this, I did them at the same time step-by-step rather than making one all the way through and then the other all the way through.

The image was stamped on watercolor paper and watercolored using Distress Marker inks. When I pulled out a 6x6 pad it had the exact colors I needed to play with the colored images.

I cut out the image with a Spellbinders die and cut a larger scalloped oval from the backing paper. Then I popped up the image on foam tape and that was it.

The only difference in these two cards is where the colors appear on the patterned paper.

I guess one flower tilts more than the other, too.

Ddd 

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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I love hibiscus! This is one of my favorite images in my stamp collection. It has great shading within the drawing which makes it easy to get the color shading in the right places. I stamped on plain cardstock and did the coloring with alcohol markers.

As soon as I trimmed out the fuschia bloom I knew I wanted a very graphic setting for it. I pulled out the black and white chevron paper and then my eye was pulled to the larger chevron in the pink paper. WOW! I broke it up with a darker band at the bottom and added a border to the flower. As a finish, I brought the green back in with the label sentiment at the top.

With an orange blossom I toned down the colors by using little of the color in the background - only around the edges and in a darker tone as well as three simple stripes of ribbon. I let the white border of the flower make it stand out from the background of greens.

I stamped the sentiment directly onto this background paper.

Ddd 

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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With three groupings of poppies stamped on watercolor paper I was able to create totally different looks on today's cards. All are watercolored with Distress Marker inks and cut with the same Spellbinders die.

For a yellow grouping I used the 'out of the box' technique to allow the blooms to escape out of the diecut shape. I chose borders of yellow and a brown background to pull colors from the flowers. The patterned papers use these same colors but in a more playful manner.

For a pink set of poppies I chose a rosy text background and some soft greens. The green stripes in the patterned paper echo the stems and the lightly printed paper serves as a calm place to stamp the script greeting.

The last set of poppies got a more casual treatment. The text background is lighter and more open so I was able to use a bolder bordering color and darker accent strips. I tied with a bit of green twine and made the flags a little whimsical.

The 'love' text in the background takes the place of any sentiment.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

Updated: Friday, 12 July 2013 7:23 AM PDT

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I love the color combination I ended up with on today's cards. I stamped the butterfly on white cardstock and colored with alcohol markers in soft blue and bright yellow. I chose these same colors for the backgrounds while adding a soft grey to the mix.

For this first one I fussy cut the butterfly with a thin border then tinted the edges with 'old paper' distress ink and a foam pad. I glued the body and antennae to the background and popped the wings up on foam.

For the second one I fussy cut the butterfly without a border and mounted it on foam tape over a matching blue triangle.

In both cases I stamped the sentiment directly on the background.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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Here is another image that I got in a swap. This time I used inks from Distress markers to watercolor in 4 different greens. I LOVE how this came out!

I gathered patterned papers and a base cardstock in a variety of greens with just one pop of brown for a break while keeping the theme of vegetation.

This has no sentiment so it can be used as a notecard for any occasion.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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Here is an example of why I created the 'coloring' topic - I didn't stamp this image. I got it in a swap of images. Thereby hangs some risk... I didn't know what kind of ink was used for the stamping so I wasn''t sure what medium was safe to use that would not smear the ink.

I took a chance and worked with alcohol markers. I tried not to spend too much time going over stamped lines to reduce the risk of ruining them. For this reason I went with straightforward colors without any shading/blending.

I pulled all the colors from the image for the backing papers and built a little flag for the hole to reinforce the theme.

The sentiment was cut into a shape to support the flag.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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This is an image I stamped on white cardstock and colored with alcohol markers. I chose a very busy paper for the background so this card is quite cheery as a result.

The background picks up the green, pink and red from the coloring. The proximity of the red and gold give a nod to the orange coloring as well. I chose a shimmer cardstock in dark copper for the base and borders and did a fancy diecut backing for the image out of it. The image was so large that I fussy cut it with a narrow border.

I did not add a sentiment to this one.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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Starting with the colored images and working to find papers that work to showcase them is kind of a backward process for me. I usually choose papers and then look for an image, sticker or other embellishments to match.

For this set I stamped my handcarved rose on three pieces of watercolor paper and watercolored them with ink from Distress Markers. In each case I added some micro-dot shading at the base.

First up is an orange rose. I used a warm beige as the base color and built a grid of denim image papers. A couple of burnt orange strips frame the ends. I popped up the image panel on foam tape and added a clear sticker scripture.

For a rosy rose I used a tan base again and backed it with a block of paper and strips from a 6x6 pad. The rose is up on foam tape and a clear sticker word placed on it.

For the final rose I watercolored in yellow. I selected papers with black, white and a bit of green. Somehow it still comes off looking pretty clean. I stamped a greeting directly on the image panel.

I very seldom use this rose without its companions but I like the result.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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I'm starting a new topic category with this entry - coloring. For many of these the images will be stamped but they might be digitals or something else. The coloring might be done with alcohol markers, watercolor markers, watercolor pencils, colored pencils, airbrush, or even acrylics. I might find some other things to color with along the way, but all will fit the category.

For today's card I stamped on watercolor paper and used Distress markers as inks and painted with an aquamarker. I used a black pen to add dots as shading in the ground. I used some papers from a 6x6 pad and pordered everything in lavender.

I stamped a sentiment directly onto the background paper.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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The recipient of the gold colored purse I made this spring really liked it and wanted another in a dark color for fall/winter. I used a wool blend charcoal gray pinstripe that looks like a man's suit fabric. I stabilized it with iron on interfacing to control the stretch on the weft.

It closes with a magnetic snap and has long straps that are attached all down the sides and sealed in the bottom seam. The base is 6.5 x 10 and the sides are 11 inches high.

I found a beautiful toile fabric for the lining, too. Every part of it is lined - purse, flap, and straps.

I don't build in any pockets as she has a drop-in purse organizer that has all the pockets she requires.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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I wanted to have a gift for a guy and thought a necktie would be classic. However, this guy doesn't really have a need for more ties and but could use a fancier clothing protector for 'nice' occasions.

I decided to make a Sunday dinner necktie bib.

I pieced it with a background 'shirt' fabric, a checked 'tie' fabric and bias tape binding. The knot in the tie is a separate piece as is the collar. The bottom of the tie is loose and under the point is a faux placket with a shirt button. I added small buttons to the collar points.

My model has a larger neck so it is not lying as smoothly as it will with the actual recipient.

I used a single bead and bead cap to make a faux tie tac.

I think this will be a hit!

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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I went to a quilt retreat recently and had fun stitching up a new banner for my fireplace wall. It was a good break between massive amounts of block making in paper piecing, regular piecing and applique for a big project I am working on.

The quilt is constructed like this one I did last year (http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/index.blog/2273178/twist-and-shout/) and is the exact same size, too.

I used a flag print plus red and blue for a truly patriotic banner.

Here you can see the twisting stripes in a closeup:

I bought the fabric for this a year ago, as soon as I had finished the pink and green one. Barely made it for the 4th of July!

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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Somewhere online I saw a single quilt block that inspired me to create a large wall banner for my guitar-playing son-in-law. I used Quilt Wizard to draft the individual units that would be combined to create interlocking guitars.

I bought fat quarters in 4 each of red, blue and green and combined these with black and woodgrain from my stash. The banner measures 42 x 81 inches.

I used a black with music symbols for the border and binding.

At the ends of the necks of each guitar I stitched on 6 mis-matched buttons in colors to match the guitar they are part of.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

Updated: Friday, 7 June 2013 7:35 PM PDT

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I really love the dehydrated apples slices I've been making but often delayed making them because I dreaded all the peeling, coring and slicing it takes. To the rescue, a chance encounter with an awesome kitchen gadget. At slightly less than $20 I was enthralled.

Simply push the base of the apple onto the 4 prongs:

Start cranking the handle and your apple is peeled, cored and spiral sliced all in one step. One apple takes about 15 seconds.

The entire apple can be slid off the core in one stack:

I then quarter the stack:

And drop the pieces into cool water with a little lemon juice in it:

My dehydrator holds two apples per tray:

The most time consuming part of the process is now laying out the slices on the trays. Tomorrow I will have a brand new batch of dehydrated apples to munch.

This tool was definitly worth the price!

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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I put up the summer decor (red, white and blue - stars and stripes theme) a few weeks ago then forgot to post. Most of it is the same (or similar) to the last couple of years but I wanted to show the display in the dining room.

The mirror trivets are a new item in my decor box (thanks, Mom). They are in three sizes. I used them as an element to tie disparate items together. I included the painted wooden stars, the summer lighthouses, a candle in a hurricane vase and clear flat marbles.

Everything is carefully arranged to look casually arranged!

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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I generally don't do up my nails until they are a 'certain' length. But I had an idea for a fun summer look and didn't have time to grow them out before summer would be gone. So I just decided to go with it.

I used a base coat, red and blue polishes from the dollar store (2 coats), a white nail art polish, clear coat (2 coats) and instant dry.

I painted both thumbnails blue and applied small white dots (for stars) and painted all the fingernails red with two thin white stripes. I did the stripes in varying directions for the look of waving flags.

Ready for the Independence holiday!

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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New appliances make me happy! I've been babying my old washer and dryer for a while now but they have not been pulling their weight. After 20+ years the washer agitation was spotty and loads had to be 1/2 sized to allow clothes to get moved around enough to get clean. The dryer took 1 1/2 cycles to get a load dry - even those 1/2 loads. Grrrr.

So, we went shopping for some new friends to live in the laundry room and they look very nice in their new home. I would have prefered a colored set but, when you shop the sales, you take what is available!

Here are my high capacity, front load machines on their pedestals.

I debated on the pedestals but then reminded myself that I do not stand around in there looking out the window, anyway, so why not. There is still enough light coming in.

Now, I have to go teach them to fold laundry and my life will be complete.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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I had some 'orphan blocks' left from a recent quilt project and they were just the right size to make potholders. The pinwheels are 7 1/2 inches and the others are 9 1/2 inches.

I got batting with a thermal barrier built in and also added a layer of cotton batting for a heavier 'hand'. They got a yellow tone-on-tone striped binding to pick up the yellow center in the daisies.

I have no immediate need for these so thought I'd put them in the 'gift cupboard' for an occasion to arise. they might end up being a donation to a cause, too.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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...and the LAST installment, too!

This final group of cards uses a sheet of thick word stickers I was gifted in a swap.

for this one I 'joined' them with a stamped word

...and one punched butterfly.

So, there we are with 42 cards all in one 'style' of construction/design.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 12:01 AM PDT

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