Carved Moose Anter Art - Moose Mountain or ART BY ED

My very talented son-in-law carved this for us this past year.  It is carved right out of a shed moose antler paddle, mostly by hand, a little bit of dremel use too. The dimension is amazing on it and it really looks nice in our living room with more of a rustic decorating theme.

Here is a close up of it.
He is hoping to sell some of his work and will make more to sell so if you know anyone who might be interested, send them my way.   He's an unemployed wild fire fighter this winter so has lots of time now! 

I will share some of the turkey feather art he made soon. He did Santa's from around the world on a bunch. 

Another Gina K card

I love being able to play and my muse has been right beside so things are going pretty good.  After I posted the sympathy challenge card (previous post) I had someone ask how I did the open area with the Cuttlebug folder.  I am sorry I don't know who to give credit to where I learned this I think there were about 4 different sites I saw.
This is a using the set Lovely Labels by Gina K.  It is so cool, they fit inside a bunch of different Label Spellbinder dies.

Now here is how to do the empty space inside the folder.
So first I find a piece of cardboard.  Someone once said it was about the thickness of a cereal box.

 

Next cut it the size of your cuttlebug folder and center the die you chose on the cardboard.  This is where a centering ruler really comes in handy.  You can use a pencil and mark it. 

I used some removable tape to hold it in place and then ran it through the Big Shot.  TWICE, once on each side.  I had to be careful to make sure it was lined up but I could see about where it was on the back side.

So here is my piece.

Then I put my cardstock in the folder like normal but then put the piece I cut on the top of it.  It sort of creates the mask so there isn't any pressure on that area to dry emboss it.  I just use one place on the top and the bottom piece with the tabs ...whatever that's called.

That then leaves the space like this. 

So next I stamped the corresponding stamp inside the non-embossed area, used my stamp positioner to put the greeting inside using the same sage ink.  I cut slits below and above the image to run the ribbon through with an x-acto knife.  Then I used the Bow Maker and put a double bow on top of the knot. ( Is there a way to use that and not make a separate bow?)  Then I took a really light gray copic and edged the outside of the image so it looked popped up. Using my Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper I rounded the edges of all 3 layers and the base card and sponged the Sage ink on the base card edges.  I added some flowers and leaves punched with a Martha Stewart punch.  TIP: I put them on with a dab of Glossy Accents on the ends.  I put a little STickles on the edge of the flowers.

Sympathy card

Sharon had a challenge over here to make a sympathy card so I decided to play.  It sure seems like I've been going through a lot of these recently, along with dog sympathy cards. So here is what I came up with it's triple embossed! 
I used Stardream cardstock for the base and layers.  I used a cuttlebug folder that I masked off the middle using a frame mat to omit the embossing in the middle.   Then using a Gina K lily from Year of Flowers I embossed that in a pearlesent powder.  That's the 2nd layer of embossing.  So the third...I stamped With Sympathy in gold Encore ink right over the flower and sprinkled detail gold powder on.  Now the trick here is to have the gun hot before you heat it and keep the gun moving and watch it so it doesn't leak into the other powder.  I got a little leakage but not too bad that I won't use it.  I popped the top layer up for a little dimension and put pearls on the corners.  I think this would make a nice wedding card too.

Gina K Challenge and CPS sketch

Over at Gina K's Blog she has announced that they are looking for a new guest designer and had a great color challenge.  Plus she has a great sale...sure right after I dropped a wad last week!  Oh well, maybe someone else will be able to take advantage of it.  She had a lot of nice new stamps out this time and I had been on a rubber diet for a long time and just fell off the wagon! 
Here is my card.  I used the sketch from CPS too.

I chose to use lavendar and lemon drop for my colors along with Pressed flowers and the companion set Year of Flowers.  I was also able to use the new Bow Easy I ordered to.  It is slick and I think I'm getting hang of it.  This card was pretty easy.  I used 4 different Cuttlebug folders, 2 full size and 2 borders and I used a Spellbinder die for the focal image.  After I stamped the Pressed flower tulip I over stamped in a darker lavender using my stamp positioner to get it spot on and sponged the edges in lavender ink. Then I rubbed Versamark over the whole thing and embossed it with clear powder.  That wasn't what I wanted so I decided to rub the Versamark over again , sprinkled heat and stick on and then clear glitter.  It even shows up sparkly in the picture!  I sewed a little around the layers and added pearls on the corners.
It looks like a perfect Easter card for my mother-in-law to me.  Especially since we're not going to be there but planning a trip to see our daughter in Montana.  Hopefully there will still be some snow so we can get a couple days in. 

Challenge cards

Ahhh, I was able to get a few challenge cards done today and able to combine a couple too so that made me happy.  We are still cold and dreary here in ND.  We didn't get the snow the east has but it sure just can't warm up.  Our high for the day was 19 and that is at 9 pm!
  This one is for the Our Creative Corner sketch and CCEE color challenge.

 

I used the cute little racoon from Gina K new release Hang in There.  The color challenge was Ruby Red, Black and Caramel....so I grabbed craft and didn't realize it until it was almost done.  I suppose the challenge police are going to arrest me so I hope you visit me in stamping jail!    I embossed the image in detail black and bleached it then colored it with Prismacolor pencils with Gamsol.  I also embossed the greeting.  The color was way off and it was real lighting so not sure what's up, it looks so washed out but I was sick of taking pictures and gave up.  

Doggy Our Craft Lounge Valentine

Just a quick share of the card I made for DD.  I used Pat the dog stamp, stamped him in Tuxedo Memento Black and colored with Copics, W5 and W3 and cut it with Nestie Label.  The heart was done in a red and I edged it with Stickles...make sure that they dry a long time before you handle it.  That's why I had to sponge red around the whole thing! 
The DP is some old SU stuff I had from years ago, Ric Rac is from Hobby Lobby, button from my stash and the faux brads I got at Walmart.

Create 4 Fun challenge

Here a card I did for the Create 4 Fun sketch challenge.  I used the Just Rite stamps I got from Tosh and the Zig Zag technique from TJ Junkies Newsletter.  I used My Minds Eye paper for that.  I actually made 2 cards pretty much the same.  I love the saying "Pretty Shoes Sure Can Cure the Blues" and since DD's best friend got a turn down letter for one of her grad school choices and LOVES shoes, I thought I'd send her one and one to my DD, since she loves shoes!!  I used my SU markers to color the image before I stamped it.  One was on Glossy paper and the other on regular cardstock.  I think I like the regular one better.

It's 5 o'clock somewhere

At least that's what Jimmy Buffet and Alan Jackson say.  I think my daughter was agreeing last week and had plans to go out with her classmates after a week that kicked their butts.  Grad school in Geophysics can do that.  :)

I made this card using another Just Rite set I won in Tosh's blog candy.  It was a little extra work cutting the center out but worth it.  I used Basic Gray DP and button (got the buttons from Tosh too!)  I cut the glass out and mounted on top and put Glassy Glaze on it sprinkled with glitter.  It even sort of showed up in the picture!
The background was one of the Asian cuttlebug folders and I used a Martha Steward punch along with nesties and a corner rounder.

Look what I won!

I always enter to win blog candy and NEVER win, until recently I won the MOTHER LODE on Tosh's blog.  I was giddy.  I couldn't wait to play so laid it out on my count (notice the Pampered Chef salt and pepper grinder) and realized I better take a picture.   I love this card that she sent with.  The paper, the coloring the layout, it's all so good.  Oh to be as good a stamper as she is....sigh.





Anyway, thank you so much Tosh for picking me!  

Now if I ever get 10,000 hits,  I'll do blog candy too.

Manly Valentines Card

Here is my OCC challenge card and the card I made for my husband.  I'm pretty sure he'll like it since well, I'm a horse person and he is by proxy.  Now the funny part about this card is it was a work in progress.  I finished it (or thought it was) then the next morning I realized, no it was missing something...I didn't sponge the edges...anyway, I kept doing a little more and finally ended up doing a Tech Junkie Sepia Technique.  So here is the progression:

Do I like the final product...I'm not sure but DH won't know the difference!  LOL

The stamp is from Coronado Island.  I stamped it in Tuxedo Black Memento ink.  The DP is retired SU.  The concho is from my horse showing days, it's time I use some of that stuff up and the brad looking things are some sticky ones I got at Walmart.  Love those as you can add them after the card it done.  I don't like the price though.  Oh and I don't recommend nor usually have a card all together then sponge it but sometimes you just gotta do it.


So, did I do the right thing?

Clear Dollar Valentine

Here's the valentine card I'm sending to my son this year, even though he's 27!  About 25 years ago we took him to Disney World and he got to hold a Macaw "like a baby" so he's going to get the humor in this as I tried to color it about the same as the one he held with my Copics.  I love using my nesties to make different shapped cards, I only wish they were a little bigger sometimes but this works.  The stamps are from Clear Dollar stamps and the cardstock is Basic Gray Marrakesh pad.  The button is one I had in my stash as well as the ribbon.  I have a few kitchen tools to send down with this and I'm sure some cash.  Grad students always need that!

Double bugged Moose

 

Ok, I admit I messed this up a little.  I forgot the highlight after the first pass of the first cuttlebug folder so I did it after the 2nd run and it picked up both layers so I was a happy stamper.   I was  excited about the background.  I sprayed 2 colors of spray I made out of Distress ink refills, water and Ranger Perfect Pearls (a Tim Holtz recipe) in a mini-mister.  

The stamp is a Riley Moose.  I just love the coffee and cupcake!  And shock, I colored it with Prisma color pencils and Gamsol.  I forgot how easy those blend.  I just color darker with one color where I want it darker and it shades itself!.  I used the out of the box technique for his antlers, sewed around the layer that I rounded the edges on.  Riley is layered on a Spellbinder Pendant, behind that is a piece of cardstock I cut like a ribbon and ran through my paper crimper...you know one of the first things us old stampers bought!  The 2 gems on the sides are not the stick on variety.  I used crystal effects to glue them on.  They won't go anywhere!

Cuttlebug Gesso

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Here's a card I made for my son using the new Cuttlebug Asian folder with a stamp from Onyxxpressions.
I used another Technique Junkie technique called Cuttlebug Gesso.   I stamped the horse in Grey Memento ink and sponged the edges of the image layer with the nestie still on.  The metal embellishment on the bottom says Wisdom.  It's one I've had a long time from Walmart.  I wrapped colored twine I found in the jewlery section of Hobby Lobby around the side panel I did the Cuttlebug Smoosh technique on.

Scotland!

Just a quick share of a card I made for my daughter.  Nothing too special as far as techniques but I really like it.  4 years ago tomorrow I put her on a plane to Scotland for a semester of study abroad at Stirling University, where the star gem is on the map.  It was the best time of her life and a life changing experience for her.  So I'm sending this to her as a reminder.  The stamp is embossed and by Scottish Borders stamps...which Joyce tells me might be back up soon, I sure hope so.  I'll make sure and tell you as soon as I know.

Watercolor Distress layering

Here's a card I did using a Technique Junkie Technique called Watercolor Distress from Feb/Mar 07 issue.  Then I did some creative layering/cutting with my Spellbinder Labels.  I used Distress inks Pine, Scattered Straw and Broken China.  After I did the back ground I stamped my images (I don't know the name of the set, it's a clear set I've had for years, sorry) in black ink and stamped off once for the lighter colors.  Then came the fun.  After I had that dried I spritzed it with some distress inks mixed with Perfect Pearls and water to give it a nice shine.

I layed the paper down and arranged my Spellbinder dies on top like this picture:

I ran it through my Big Shot and then layered it all on a piece of black cardstock I ran through a Cuttlebug folder.  I added 3 brads to the center image.  To layer it I put the largest piece down and zig zag stitched around it.  Then I pop dotted the next layer, then the next one was on the paper and the last piece I popped up again.  The green card base looks terrible in this picture but IRL it's a lot better.  I was going to layer it on yellow but YUK.  Blue didn't work either so I'm glad green did.  This was really a quick, fun card to do with nice results, IMHO  LOL