still more bears

eBay has been a very dangerous place for me lately... ;) I started looking for a specific stamp set and ended up finding that set and more....

This guy was the first to be created with my new treasure. The body of the bear & his clothes die actually came from Stampin' Up's clearance section for less than what they were going for on eBay. I used up some browns that have been in the scrap file for way to long. The sticker on his shirt is from sandylion. The frog punch in his hand is from Carl. The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn. The sketch is from OWH #81. The stripe paper is more SEI. The shirt and pants are die cut from coordinating scraps. I chalked the edges of this little guy to help him stand out from the white of the background die cut, also from Stampin' Up. I also chalked the edge of the background die cut. The chalks have been in the stash for ages & need to see some use. I actually like the softer look of the chalk than the darker, little harsher look of using ink pads for the edging.

Next to be created was this guy. Same Stampin' Up dies for the bear. Nesties for background circle & it's matt. The sentiment stamp is also from Stampin' Up, called Beary Nice Wishes, which also came from an eBay purchase. :) The small heart punch in the sentiment is from an unknown company (it wasn't marked on the punch) and popped up with dimensional adhesive. The papers are all SEI again. Going to get some of it used up yet!! Sketch is from, I don't know..... I didn't write it down for some reason.... Maybe from some Pinterest inspiration?

And another guy.... Same dies and paper. The sentiment is from Hero Arts & is from one of the first sets they did for OWH. The sticker on his shirt, I don't know who made it, it was just in the stash. Sketch is #203 from OWH.

Can we handle 1 more of these guys?

This is the last one I made. Again same dies and paper. Punch in his hand is from Emagination. Sentiment stamp is from Hot Off the Press. Sketch is from decontructing sketch #134. Looking at it now, I may go back and lightly go around the bear with a light grey pen to help him pop just a bit from the light background. What do you think?

Not bad for a weekend that included a day spent at the Ski Club. ;) I am still waiting on the stamp set that started this eBay craziness. Hope to have it by this weekend so I can play while the game is on. :)

OWH mid-week throwdown

This weeks mid-week throwdown is to make cards for Moms & Dads to send home to their kids. Some of my favorite kinds of cards to make. As an added bonus it also works for the Our Daily Bread Challenge for June! :)

This card started out with the piece of blue from the scrap pile. I'm working really hard to make that pile go down! Unfortunately, the more I clean and straighten, the bigger that pile seems to get. (Although I am getting better about throwing things in the recycle box or the donate box if they are aren't pieces that I really love and don't have to force myself to use....) I have no idea who made the blue with speckles. It reminded me of water so I was off to find a summer image... The stickers are from Me and My Big Ideas from a long, long, time ago. The girl was mounted on white cardstock and trimmed out so that she wouldn't blend into the water. The fish was put straight onto the background paper. The sentiment is from Doodlebug by Hampton Arts. The sketch is OWH #13.

Summer vacation has finally started here at our house. Hopefully that will mean some quality crafting time with my favorite teenager. :)

Design Bootcamp- focal point

This months bootcamp lesson was creating a focal point. I started with OWH sketch #81. The original sketch has the sentiment off in the upper right corner and an embellishment in the lower left corner. I grouped the embellishment and sentiment together to create a stronger focal point.

Here's another card using the same sketch and idea with grouping the sentiment and embellishments.

This card started with OWH sketch #152. The sentiment is stamped on white cardstock and matted with dark purple to help it pop. By keeping the flower sticker on the same piece as the sentiment it all stays tied together as a single focal point.

Creating cards with a strong design is easier when design elements are grouped together. Add in last months lesson on color, and great cards are sure to happen. :)

sketch #84 for OWH & a rant

card for this week's sketch from the stars & stamps blog.

I used Frances Meyer stickers from deep in my stash (I've been cleaning out the scrap room and trying to use what I'm finding. The stuff that is no longer fun is outa here!). Sizzix snowflake #6 embossing folder. Red & black checked ribbon is also from my stash. I uncovered 9 of these stickers sheets so I made 9 cards. Some of the pieces are backed with white, cut out and popped up with Sandy's roll of dimensional adhesive. :o)

Making these were my sanity saver today after our less than positive experience at Ted Brown Music. They lost a very long time customer today. (I figured it out that it was 30 years ago that my flute was purchased there....) I was not a happy girl when we left there this morning. I was all set to spend $1,500 to 2,000 today, but because they refused to apply ALL of my rental payments, I declined to purchase a better model of clarinet from them. Their offer was 6 months of payments. Ummmm, I don't think so. $96 vs 576 on a $1,500 model. So now, their competition will get my $$ and I will be telling anyone and everyone NOT TO BELIEVE THEM WHEN THEY TELL YOU ALL OF YOUR RENTAL PAYMENTS WILL APPLY TO AN UPGRADE PURCHASE. Quoting the manager that I talked to (in a VERY condescending & patronizing voice)-- "They don't have the time & it's too expensive to train the temp hires that they use for the school band nights so sometimes the info that is given out isn't quite correct. And in all the noise & confusion people tend to 'hear what they want to hear.' And if he applied ALL that rental money, how would he make anything?" Well buddy, how are you going to make any money if I don't shop there & tell everyone I know of my experience & strongly suggest to not shop there & they tell their friends & they tell their friends..... Karma buddy, karma. All for $500 rental credit. [/rant over]