Napkin Beach Card - 2019

Marathon Card 2019

I think using napkins for you cards is an old school technique, but it works pretty well. I watch several You Tube videos and decided I liked the plastic wrap ironing technique the best because you

can save most of the image without having to cut off the bumpy embossed edges. I also didn't like how messy I got when using a glue stick. 

One of the YT said the reason to use napkins, is the low cost to get some cool backgrounds. Never really thought of it that way but it makes sense. I went to a Tuesday Morning store this weekend and they had a whole aisle of napkins.  For around $2.00 you can get 15-20 napkins. I was told don't get the napkins at the dollar stores, as they don't hold up very well when transferring and peeling the layers apart. 

I went a little crazy buying up the images I liked buy the TM store isn't close so I knew I would be awhile before I went back again. Yes, ironing a napkin on to cardstock takes time but the end result is well worth the savings. 

Stamp is from Impression Obsession B19157

The little gold star came from my stash = know idea where it came from, I've had it that long. 

Used Copic markers to make the wood looking sign

Black embossing power

Foam tape for the office supply store. 

One of my go to cards. 2019

Hero Art Stamp 

This will be one of the cards we'll be making at the marathon next month. It's one I've done before but it's so fun to make! Most people don't have the stash of washi paper I have so it's fun they get to play with a nice variety of paper. 
It's also a good way to use up any washi paper scraps you may have.

I used full sheets of label paper (can get at any office supply store) to hold the washi squares. This was a trick I learned from Michael Strong years ago. 
Stamp - Hero Arts
Washi Paper - Hanko

One of my go to meals.

Finding recipes that fit the lifestyle of a single person is not easy. At last year's family Christmas party a cousin made these chicken wings. It's a very basic recipe and works well for me. A co-worker hates the idea of eating "chicken elbows" but then I don't think she cooks very much. :) 

Toss the chicken in olive oil and then season with salt and pepper. Don't use cheap table salt (I found that out the hard way) even finishing salt works better. Go a little heavy on the seasoning. Heat oven to 425 and bake for an hour. I like my chicken crispy so that's why I cook it for so long. 
Really a very simple dish and easy to reheat. 

Last Minute Card - 2019

I had to come up with a fourth card for my workshop at FabMo last week. My creative mojo just wasn't coming up with anything! At 11:00 pm the night before class, I saw something on Pinterest that inspired this card. The great thing about the card was I could use up my huge stash of water color backgrounds. I make backgrounds when I'm in a creative slump so I always have a stash. Slapping color down on paper always helps gets things going. 
As a bonus, the cut out part was made into a second card which will be going to my friend Susan's card rack at her church. 
The die is from Penny Black, Twinkling H2O watercolor and an old SU stamp set, Love and Sympathy

Piggy Card 2019

I know non card making people think we can just sit down and whip out cards without really thinking about it. This piggy card went through several drafts before I finally got to a card I'm willing to give to my card making buddies. It took about a month to do. 
I found some cross stitch fabric (not really fabric but very stiff paper) at FabMo and really wanted to make a card. FabMo also gets a ton of thread donated, so I now have a very nice supply. 
The parts you can't see is what took the most time and only other card makers will understand that. I would love to teach this in a class but the stitch part, even as simple as it is takes about an hour to do. 

Paper Crafter - Clean Up

You know your a serious paper crafter when it takes 4 hours (still not 100% done) to sort out all you paper. I was trying to get all my white (110 & 80 lb) card stock back in the same pile along with my black card stock. Those are the colors I use most on my cards. I had several class kits from workshops I've taught that I had to put away, so that added to the sorting. I also found a box of card fronts I started and filed away. When designing for a class, I make samples and if I think I can't teach it in the time frame I have, I file it away.

 I decided last night to put some of them together and send off to a friend who has a card rack at her church which helps supports one of the programs there. 

Patina Card 2019

This card started out as a basic watercolor card (Twinkling H2O) but when I messed up the background (the copper watercolor wasn't dark enough) I just started slapping color all over the image. The copper started blending with green in the leaves to make that patina /vintage look I like.
Now I just have to decide do I teach this card at the FabMo marathon in June or do it for the May Papercrafters workshop this month.  Stamp is an old Memory Box stamp.

FabMo Workshop May 19, 2019

Card for the FabMo May Workshop

Amazing when your under a deadline what you can get done! The FabMo newsletter comes out every month and the new volunteer editor is super good about keeping us on schedule. 
I think part of the success is the editor has drop dead time line, so either get it in by this date or you don't get into the newsletter. Before the newsletter came out when there was time to get it done. 
Anyways, this card came about with me wanting to use up some of my washi paper end cuts and use my Hero Arts stamps. 
The part you can't see is the circle with a cords is popped up. The first draft I made had the washi paper right up the cord but it wouldn't lay flat. So I taped washi paper right on the base card and popped up the circle/cord. 

Hero Arts Jumble Mail stamp

The crafting world is going crazy with some companies suing other crafting companies. Hero Arts is the grandmother of rubber stamping (been around since the early 70's) and is a local company for me. They're going toe to toe with the Ellison company over a die cutting process. Hero Arts has always had a open door, enough to go around type of business. Helping other stamp companies start and grow. I'm showing my support using my $$$ and buying their product. I was getting ready to replace one of my die cutting machines Ellison makes but my money is going somewhere else.  Ellison isn't  the only game in town and I hope the loss of revenue will show them crafters support those who help others.
Back to the card. 
I love this new back ground stamp! I went old school and used chalk (anyone remember that?) to add a little color. I die cut a window ( a little hard to see in the photo) to add something different. Very fun card to make. 

Kimono Card - FabMo 2019

I think FabMo is the best unknown secret for all crafters. They use to get only fabric but now art supplies are being donated. More whole craftrooms supplies (estates) are also being donated. You never know what will be there when they have a special sale. 
I was there for a UFO night (unfinished objects) and found these silk sample squares. Making these kimono cards are super simple and fast to make. The fancy fabric makes each card unique. For my paper crafters group, I'm going to bring my kimono die to every workshop so those who attend can make these card if any they find any fabric squares they like. 

Elephant Card - Lawn Fawn

Card for April's Paper Crafters at FabMo. 

This card has been on my work table for months! I even took it on vacation with me, thinking I would get parts of it done. 
I was trying to make it a spinning card (elephant and balloon moving back and forth) but it turned out to be to hard to do in a class room setting. It was cute to see the elephant spin upside down but getting so the back parts don't show was a little too precise for newbies. 
The back card was the first draft. The background clouds were too dark so I changed inks. I embossed the balloons on the second card but I think it's over kill, so probably won't do it in class. 
Inspired by a Youtube video by Jennifer McGuire  

Easter Card 2019

Card by Laurie

I didn't get my Easter cards done in time this year. Never got into the creative bunny mode and I didn't want to buy any new stamps. 
Once a month I meet up with my card making group and we swap cards. Laurie made this awesome card using alcohol inks (egg) that was inspired by a Youtube post by Jennifer McGuire.  I already sent it off to another crafting buddy who would appreciate the creativeness  of this card.