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A little at a time we work on the country place. This is a recent project - clearing a path down to the river through the woods.
So cool and secluded, and the entry to the access is well hidden so you have to know it is there to find it.
Ddd
On a weekend visit to the country place we were delighted to see a squirrel had found the feeder we installed. This was the biggest squirrel we had either ever seen. He was a foot long in the body.
As a measure, that is a gallon jar and look how far his tail hangs down from there. He just watched us from his feeder and kept on stuffing his face.
This is some sort of gray squirrel. Up at our city place we only have redish squirrels about half this size and brown ones with red bellies that are the size of chipmunks.
What fun!
Ddd
Challenge today was to pick a single stamp and design a card around it. The one I chose was the string of lanterns. Then I picked out a stamp of blossoming branches for the lanterns to hang from and, finally, a grass image to define the ground. All were stamped on white cardstock with archival ink, colored with watercolor pencils and gone over lightly over with a water brush. I used blue pencil very lightly on the sky to create a sunny sky and brushed with water as well.
I stamped the greeting with the archival ink and trimmed the image to size. Two pieces of pink card are placed behind opposing corners and an oriental gold corner laid on. All this is placed on green folded card base.
Rub-on borders are applied to the top and the bottom. Then a pair of teardrop rhinestones were arranged to form a heart. A little stem finished it off.
Ddd
This entry WAS posted but then never showed up at the appointed time. SOMEWHERE out there this may magically appear again. Pretend like you never saw it! LOL!
For this card I stamped with Versamark on black cardstock and then used three different tones of Pearl-Ex powder, applied with a fingertip. First I tap it on and then rub it in and finally buff away stray powder from the background.
I then cut them out with a scalloped Nestability die and for each cut a larger scallop in an irridescent cardstock to match a shell.
The larger scallops went through the Cuttlebug with the 'tapestry' folder and then all was assembled with foam dots for dimension. The right panel is metallic gold cardstock and it has a clear text sticker on it.
Here is a close-up view of the shimmer.
Each motif also got two matching rhinestones for 'water droplets'.
Ddd
Here's another nice picture from my page-a-day calendar. I love the green in the water! I cut a variety of scalloped circles to mimic the edge of the shell and then ran them through the Cuttlebug for a pattern to mimic the waves. A border of golden cardstock frames the illustration and three silk flowers, colored with alcohol inks, have tiny button brad centers. All elements are mounted in a series of 3D stages.
The stitching is hand drawn with watercolor marker and then shaded with a different tone to add depth. The text strip is a cardstock sticker.
Ddd
This is a stamp owned by a friend who sent me this impression on cream background. I colored with watercolor pencils and then used a water brush to apply Twinkling H2Os over. This blends the base color and also applies a shine.
Then I used a Nestabilities scalloped oval die to cut out and also to emboss the edges of the piece. While the die was still in place I used 'old paper' distress ink to shade the inner scallops and after removing the die I used 'worn lipstick' distress ink to color the outer edges of the piece.
I used a two-stage corner punch that also embosses a design. This is for the pink backing. Then I cut a folded kraft cardstock, rounded the corners and distressed with more of the 'worn lipstick'.
This shows a closeup so you can see the lovely shine of the card.
Ddd
I pricked out these roses at the same time as the last set using the same paper and even stitched with the same threads. The difference is all in the finish.
I used pink and green watercolor markers and then added touches of yellow marker as highlights rather than adding shading.
Then the green cardstock was cut to 1/4 inch larger and a corner punch was used. This allowed the corners of the pink paper to tuck into the fancy corners.
I mounted to a pink card base and added a clear text sticker.
Ddd
I started this with the grouping of tiles from a catalog and creased them at the seams. Then I layered with alternating scrapbook papers and finally a purple cardstock. I used a purple ink to distress the edges of the largest layer.
I used tiny peel-off greetings to create a border "happy birthday, all the best, and congratulations"
Peel-off fancy corners are the finishing touch.
Ddd
I made a reverse photocopy of this caboose sketch and hand-colored it using watercolor markers and a water brush. I wanted just a hint of the original color to make it look weathered.
I used lines to frame it out and a scrapbook paper background, antique brads anchor the corners and two cardstock text stickers are the finishing touch.
Ddd
Here is the last of my little mannaquins. For this one, I created a little swimsuit with a mesh cover. The flip-flops are created with cardstock and ribbon.
The tiles are drawn by hand and the lettering, as well.
Ddd
For this mannaquin I left more of it showing! I just snipped out some squares of scrapbook paper and attached them. Then I drew in some 'pins' and attached half-pearls as pin tops.
The background is dress pattern tissue over scrapbook paper and the stand is drawn in free-hand. I used the pinking scissors on the tag to reinforce the theme.
Ddd
Mirkwood Designs website of templates has this adorable manaquin that can be dressed up. I printed it out in a variety of sizes so I could have some choices. I cut them out of scrapbook paper with a fabric print.
For this I drew up a shirtwaist, even though all you see of the manaquin is the neck. I drew on detailing with Sharpie marker and gave it a belt of ribbon with a cardstock buckle.
I free-handed a stand and covered a lightly patterned background paper with old dress pattern tissue. The tag is hand-lettered and I colored the string with watercolor marker.
Ddd
I got three impressions of this little girl in a swap a LONG time ago. I colored them up with watercolor markers and put in some grey marker shading. Then I cut them up and made it into one 3D image.
I've mentioned before that these little girls with no mouth look creepy to me so I always draw one in.
I made a 'tent' card format and used some subtle print scrapbook paper for background.
All of the text is stickers and I used the grey marker shading under those as well.
Ddd
I found these scraps laying on the table when I went to clean up the studio so I put them together and covered them with laminate to protect from damage.
I found the cardstock text sticker that I 'needed' to use for this bookmark.
Ddd
It is rare we can catch a glimpse of these little birds at the feeder because it hangs right in front of the garden window in the kitchen. As soon as they see our movement, away they fly.
I've been told many times what kind of bird they are, but can never remember for sure. I'm thinking it might be a goldfinch, but don't quote me on that.
This one stayed around while I went and got the camera, came back, ant took shots from several angles. Only two came out since I was shooting through the window and my camera is auto-(un)focus.
She took off when the brighter male flew in briefly. He wasn't there long enough to get even a blurry picture.
Ddd
I made up this floral wreath and it was my hubby who pointed out that the center formed a heart. So I took advantage of that and centered a gold peel-off heart inside. A few gold swirls and hearts at the corners add a little panache.
I cut slits to thread the ribbon through before tying in a bow. The backing cardstocks (red and purple) and scrapbook paper (yellow check) are colors pulled from the wreath.
Ddd
I put together this 3D watering can image and backed it with a little 'grassy' area of scrapbook paper and a piece of printed cardstock. I used a gold sticker greeting and added some rhinestones to enhance it.
I tied a bow on the handle with ribbon.
Ddd
Are you sick of these little dresses? Maybe I'll go work on something else for a while - after this one more!
The background paper on the left is one that I have been hoarding for a long time. It is SO beautiful, I just couldn't bring myself to cut into it. At last I've done it and I do like the result.
Bits and pieces pulled together to complement one another - so there you go.
Ddd
