Friday, June 27, 2014

Guys Graduation Card

One of my favorite young men (2nd cousin) Peter graduated from high school this spring.  His passion is baseball (just like his father).  I found this cool vintage baseball image on Etsy for $1.00 and thought it would make a perfect card for him.  I love the way it turned out. 

First I inked the Impression Obsession Stripe Stamp with Versa fine ink making sure there were some blank lines to give it more of a vintage feel.  You do this by rubbing the ink on instead of blotting. I learned that tip from Wendy Vecchi.
Tea Dye was used to give everything an aged look.   Using Tim Holtz  Slight Alterations CMS060
I stamped on the background of the Congrats and the year.  I love that stamp as I think it adds so much interest.  I am sorry but I don't know which set of numbers I have. I think it is Memory Box but I did not label it. (shaking my finger at myself)  I personalized the inside too with a graduation cap and a note to Peter.  I think he will like it.
 
You can purchase all the following products from Terri at www.atjoansgardens.com
 
Thin Stripes Stamp-  B5199 - Impression Obsession
Slight Alterations - CMS060 - Tim Holtz
Congrats - 656360 - Sizzix
Tea Dye Distressed Ink by Tim Holtz
Numbers - I think Memory Box, but not sure.
 
 

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Guy's Birthday Card

Todd, our grandson-in-law's birthday is the 29th and so I made this card for him.  I don't know about you, but it is harder for me to do a guy/boy's card than anything else.  First of all, I don't think they have near the fun and cute dies that are available for women/girls.  And, It is hard not to "frill" them up.  But, this is what I came up for Todd.

Have a truckload of fun on your birthday.  The stamps are both very grungy, so they might be hard to see/read.  In real life though they look just fine. 
I started out using water color paper. I inked a brayer with Fired Brick, Scattered Straw, Ripe Persimmon Distressed Inks (separately) and brayered each ink until I got the look I wanted.  Then I did the same thing for the bottom Peacock feathers and Vintage Photo.  I spritz them lightly with water making sure all the inks were blended together.
Using Time Holtz Slight Alterations, I stamped over the bottom for texture.  The trees were stamped and everything was dried with a heat tool.
A piece of dry wall tape that had been inked was laid on top of the bottom.    The small town was attached after stamping it with another stamp from the Slight Alterations stamp set.  The truck and sentiment were popped up. This card was easy once I figured out what I was doing. 
 
Products used that can be purchased from Terri at www.atjoansgardens.com
Zutter Distresser
Special Boy Stamp - F401 - Our Daily Bread
Slight Alterations Stamp- CMS060 - Tim Holtz
Autumn Treasures Stamp - G1896 - Memory Box
Winter Neighborhood Border - B323 - Cheery Lynn
Potting Soil - Archival Ink - Wendy Vecchi
Distressed Inks - Peacock Feathers, Vintage Photo- Wild Honey- Fired Brick - Ripe Persimmon
 

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

53 years ago today

Fifty Three years ago I was 17 and I married my high school sweetheart Duane.   We were married 28 years before he lost his life to Esophagus Cancer at the age of 47.  I was 43.  My world fell apart and I had to make a new life.  I wondered how I would go on, but I did.  I made a new life for myself, not always making the wisest decisions, but learned a lot by during those years of being single.  One of the hardest things was making decisions by myself.  There were some rough years, but I made it!
After 6 years, God blessed me and sent me another wonderful husband...Jon. We have been married 20 years and it has been truly a great 20 years!!! 


My very favorite verses are Philippians 4: 6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Every time I would be afraid or anxious during Duane's illness and after his death I would repeat this verse. It was a huge comfort to me and is still my favorite verse after all these years.

 

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Beautiful Flowers

I purchased 2 new lilies last summer and I thought that they did not make it through the harsh winter.
What a nice surprise to walk out to my garden a couple days ago and find them blooming.  I thought I had planted them in a different location.  I want to move them once they are done blooming as they are among taller lilies and aren't as showy as they could be.  Aren't they gorgeous??
I wanted to take more pictures this morning as several more have opened, but it is raining again.
Hopefully tomorrow.

 Red and yellow Lilly

 Pink Lilly
 Peach Lilly
 
 

And the winner is~~~


You can see all last weeks challenge entries by clicking here!

This week's winner was chosen by a random drawing and
Darlene is the winner.    
Congratulations Darlene!!!!!
 Thanks to those of you who joined us for last week's challenge.  Great job everyone on the layer cards.   I love how some of you changed it up from my design.  That's what this is all about...new ideas.
I will be sending Darlene a badge for her web site and Terri will be sending a gift from Joan's Gardens.
 You can see Darlene gorgeous card by clicking here!  Be sure to leave Darlene a comment.  She is one that changed her card up a bit from the original design and I loved it.  Great job Darlene!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:
4 
Timestamp: 2014-06-24 11:54:48 UTC

Monday, June 23, 2014

Challenge 19 CARD

 
 
 

 
This card is my favorite kind of card to make.  Lots of layers of ink, different textures using more than one layer, stencils. distressing, curling, inking, more inking.  I love the raised look of Embossing Paste.  Isn't this stencil gorgeous?   I wanted to use some cheese cloth, but after searching everywhere I gave up.  I will have Terri order some for me....then I will find my other package as I know I purchased some....know what I mean?
 
I first started out using the Dream Weaver Hydrangea Stencil, and several Tim Holtz Stencils.
I applied several different colors of ink to get the interesting effect.  I also added half of a Cheery
Lynn doily, some Dry Wall Mesh, colored a charm and wooden leaves.  Everything was inked with Tim Holtz Distressed Ink and Acrylic Paint by Dream Weaver.
If you want any more details, please comment or email me at jfricker@fourway.net
 
One thing I want to tell you...I LOVE Dream Weaver Stencils.  These stencils are metal and they don't tear or bend easily.  Terri is considering carrying them, so take a look at the Dream Weaver web site and see all the gorgeous stencils (and now some dies).  Then drop Terri an email and let her know that you are interested in them.   http://www.dreamweaverstencils.com/  There are lots of pages, but the page numbers are listed at the top of the page rather than at the bottom, so be sure don't miss them.
 
The Products used on this card can be purchased by emailing Terri by clicking here!
Hydrangea Stencil - LJ858 - Dream Weaver
Dot Fade Stencil - THS 006 - Tim Holtz
Shatter Stencil - THS014 - Tim Holtz
Bubble Stencil THS002 - Tim Holtz
Vintage Photo, Iced Spruce, Wild Honey, Peacock Feathers, Shabby Shutters, Dusty Concord, Distressed Ink by Tim Holtz
Flowers Lattice - 656979 - Sizzix
Exotic Butterfly - DL113 - Cheery Lynn
Script SB1 - Stamp - Indigo Blue
Aged Aqua Embossing Enamel - Stampendous
Thanks Stamp - A833 - Memory Box
Embossing Paste - Dream Weaver or Wendy Vecchi -
Violet  Acrylic Paint - Jack Richesons - Dream Weaver
 
A badge will be sent to the winner and Terri at Joan's Gardens will be sending a prize to the winner.
Here is what you need to do for this week's challenge!
 
Below is what you need to do for this week's challenge
  • Use lots of colors of ink - your choice
  • Use Different Textures
  • Stencil. ..  either with paste or ink.  You can use a die if you don't have a stencil.
  • You must use a product sold at Joan's Gardens.  Also, mention that you are doing the card/project for Joan's Touch Challenge. It would be nice if you would add this link to your post: www.joanstouch.com
 
You will have until next Monday, June 30 morning 6:00 AM EST to link your project.
 
A winner will be chosen from a random drawing for week #19 and the winner of the challenge will be announced July 1