I hear the call....

Dustin Pike posted on his blog a call to readers to send a card to 10-year old Delia in Denver Colorado, who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He generously offered one of his digital stamps free to anyone who wished to participate.

She loves...no, adores owls and that was what the stamp Dustin donated was ---owls. She has been inundated with owl-based cards from around the world wishing her well. I never seem to find the time but, I really wanted to do this.

So, I got my stamp...brought out the dreaded Copics (which I still have such trouble with) and did my best. I found glorious pink glitter paper to match the blue, brought out a Martha Stewart Edge punch (finally broke into my hoarded stash), added a computer generated sentiment, mounted it on a Spellbinder's tag, a matching bow and a jewel.

Sitting there last night watching the Olympics I thought ...okay, Owl...you are sick...you need bloodshot eyes. Then today I added Glossy Accents to the eyes. I think it looks pretty good myself! The inside is just a note telling her that good wishes are winging her way from this corner of the world.

Yesterday, I had some down time and as I surfed around on Becca's blog "Amazing Paper Grace" I saw what she did with an owl made from Nestabilities. I just had to do it!

Right after work I headed to Michael's to grab a note pad and I spotted this 5x7 hot pink journal. I couldn't wait to finish supper and out came my Big Shot, Nestabilities, paper, Distress Ink and stuff. As I did not have the Stamping Up punch for the head I had to "Google" an image of the die cut> print it out on my computer> cut the cardstock> trace it onto my paper and cut it out. Then I die-cut the other required pieces, did my very first distress-look, glued everything together and finished with adding googly eyes.

I really hope she likes it. Now, I just have to package it all up and stick it in the mail. I heard they released her from the hospital and she is resting at home now.

I have been so busy working that I really have not had time to think and I still have the wedding invitations to make by the end of the month. Then....I plan on digging out my Marianne Walker manual and figure out how to use these dreaded Copics without bleeding everywhere. I know it is me because I am using Prism paper and I am using Neenah Classic Crest paper everyone raves about and I still bleed.

Oh well...six medals...Go Canada Go!!!

Updates.....

Phew...it has been awhile since I last posted...busy, busy, busy! Our first grandson arrived this past August and I just had to make birth announcements....man, why else have I been buying and hoarding all this stuff!

The kids had come for a visit and Jen and I sat down and she pre-picked out the announcements...we just had to wait to see if it would be pink or blue. In the meantine, I ordered the tiny clothespins off the internet and tried to find the perfect paper. I searched high and lo and could not find anything I liked or even looked remotely like the picture in the book.

So, back to creating digitally. I created the paper I wanted and just waited to see what colour I was going to use...simple! Same thing with the feet, I tried to find a stamp but again, on the internet and readily available in the US but, I live in Canada and getting US based card creation products up here.....good luck! Back to the computer....look for clip art....change the colour (gotta love my graphic programs!) and I had just what I wanted. On the inside - basic birth announcement but, I added tiny punched out baby feet as an embellishment.

My brother-in-law's father passed away and I wanted to send him something simple, but masculine. I saw this technique on another blog and I immediately thought of it for him. I searched until I found a clip art of a Thomas Kincaid painting...printed two copies, one black and white and one in colour. Using my Nestabilities I die cut the colour picture and used a black marker to outline the die-cut. I then, carefully, matched it to the black & white printoff, printed a computer generated sentiment, mounted it and added two eyelets for the string to go through. I lined the envelope to make things more special for him.

Christmas cards (I know, I know...a bit late but, better late than never).

Baby's First Christmas...when I spotted these 3D sheets I just had to do one for our new grandson. I had not done one before, even though I have tons stored (alright, hoarded!) and I have wanted to do one.

My camera sucks...hopefully, in the near future I can replace it. The colours are so much richer...I used green velvet mounted on gold mirrored paper and then mounted on red velvet. The sentiment was printed on my laser printer and then die-cut, the ribbon was beautiful
Christmas ribbon threaded through each end.

I only took pictures (me bad) of one of the Christmas cards I sent out this year...and I did four styles. Debbie, who taught the Prisma colour class and the Copic class always says to photocopy the originals and use the photocopies on your cards...man, after colouring twenty cards I sure see her point and will most definitely do that in the future! If I find the time, I will recreate them and post them here...I am so proud of them!

This one I used a 3D Pointsetia sticker on acetate, double-sided tape, red glitter and cut each piece out to form the flower. I then ran the background through my CB embossing folder and my Scor-Pal to form the base for the sentiment. Again I used stickers but, this time the gold "Merry Christmas" was on two lines so, I very carefully cut the welding to use it on one line...some glittery ribbon and a small bow to finish it off.

Man, I have had this 3D sheet in my computer for a couple of years looking for the first opportunity to use it. Lo and behold, we get an invitation to a birthday party! My "nephew of the heart" is turning 50! Yeah, I get to use this sheet and I get to roast him at the same time....life is good!

Again, my camera sucks and the green paper colour does not come though! It is a glorious, rich yellowish green and really rocks with the deep colour of the blue. There is five layers to this 3D sheet and I had to cut them out individually, man my wrists are still hurting! A simple die-cut with Nestabilities circles to form the "50", Spica to the shorts and dumb bells...and I have a perfect card for Shayne!

Valentine's is coming up soon and as I wanted to make a card for Nolan....Hey, I can make lots of holiday cards for him....Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter etc. and, to top it off, we have another grand baby on the way! Both babies will have birthdays pretty close to each other, just one year apart! More birth announcements, more baby cards...yahoo!!!!

Another free "print your own" 3D sheet from the internet (and, thankfully, there are thousands of free sheets out there), sat down to cut out the layers while I watched TV and I have just the right card for our grandson. The hearts in the corners are from a punch and I used Spica on them plus the bears, flower graphic, around the heart and the writting on the heart.

I absolutely love 3D sheets and I can't wait to make some more but, I think the pre-printed ones are so much easier to use. I will still use the free ones on the internet but, I will try to pick out ones that are easier for me to cut!

Well, I have more to do so I will try to get them posted sooner rather than later. I hope everyone is having a great day.

Cat