Star card

My idea and instructions for this card is from Stamp Owl's Studio blog.  She is from Australia, so those of us in the USA need to do some conversion, but it's not too hard.

Folded

This card starts out as a triangle with 3 - 12" sides.  It is scored in 2 places and folded.  The corners of the blue triangle with stars are tucked under previous fold on one side, like closing top of a box.

Open

I haven't added a sentiment nor decided where to put one.  It's just a fun fold and this is my first try.  More work should come up with some interesting cards.  Stay tuned!



Learning to color images

As many of you know, I've been struggling to learn to color my images.  This flower was stamped in Memento Black Tuxedo ink onto pearescent pale lavender cardstock and cut out with circle Nestibility.  This stamp is by Alesa Baker.

Step 1

1.  I started by coloring the stamens in the middle of flower with yellow pencil.  This doesn't really show in the photo.   I colored the petals from center of the flower outward, using light, short strokes with Mulberry Prismacolor pencil and the leaves with Prismacolor Grass Green pencil.

Step 2

2.  Next, I added a second color with each section, working my way outward and overlapping the strokes.  I used Prismacolor Parma Violet for petals and True Green for leaves.

Step 3

 3.  I now added a third color to each side, using Lilac on the petals and Spring Green on the leaves.

Step 4

4.  The 4th layer of color on the petals is Lavender Prismacolor pencil.

Step 5

5. Finally, I added white to the outer edge of both petal and leaves.  Since the paper is lavender, the white really makes the edges pop.  You can still see all the colors and pencil strokes on the image.

Step 6

6.  The last step is to blend all the colors with a Prismacolor Colorless Blender.  This makes it all look smooth and blended.  I also use my Electric Eraser to clean up any edges or overly dark pencil strokes.

7.  Add an accenting color layer under your image before mounting onto your final card.

Step 7

You can see my finished card in my previous post.

Finished card

Thinking of you

This card has taken me a while to create.  When I was playing with making bows, this ribbon made very nice bows on the fork.  I had to find paper and a stamped image that would go with this color ribbon.

I stamped this old Alesa Baker stamp (2002) onto pearlescent cardstock and colored the image with Prismacolor pencils.  I still need to work on my coloring skills.  I'm trying to learn to shade my flowers.  I blended several colors with the Prismacolor Colorless Blender.  Then I had to locate ink and paper to go with the colors.  The base card is just white cardstock.

I also tried to create dimension in my card by popping the sentiment and the image on foam mounting tape.

The Eagles have hatched!

It's hard to concentrate on making cards when even my dog has become an eagle watcher!  He was attracted by the sound and tried to attack the speakers.



Last night Eaglet #3 came out of his shell.  How exciting to watch it hatch.  You can watch the close-up video HERE.  If you want to watch the Eagle Cam live, here's the link:  Decorah Eagles.  There are eagle watchers from 31 countries watching this.  Last night, there were over 100,000 viewers watching Mama Eagle sleep, with babies under her.

If you want to really be addicted, you can follow the eagles on Facebook.  This site is very fast moving with lots of photos posted.  This morning we had a glimpse of all 3 eaglets.

I'm still trying to get some cards designed, but this is so much fun and a chance of a lifetime.  It is so 'egg-citing' to watch our national bird in their normal lifestyle.  This has been going on forever, but this is our first opportunity to observe it so closely.  Thank you, Bob Anderson, for your vision and hard work to set this up.

Eaglet #1 just doesn't want to miss a thing!

Finished some cards, finally!

I finally finished the assembly of these cards today.  I haven't folded them yet because the glue is still drying on the bows.  I couldn't get tape to stick to these ribbons, so I used Crafter's Pick Ultimate glue.  It dries clear and I'm hoping it won't show through the sheer ribbon when dry. 

This embossed designer paper was hard to adhere to the base cards, so I used Miracle Tape around the edges and ATG tape on the centers.  I also burnished them well to get good adhesion.  I'm leaving these 9 cards with no sentiment.  This makes them more versatile for the troops to use.

Here's 2 of the cards, different base cards and different ribbons.  The sheer ribbons seem to make better bows with the fork method, but are harder to attach to cards.

I'm still watching the Eagle Cam.  The 3rd egg still hasn't hatched.  It doesn't look like there's any pips in it yet, so maybe tomorrow.

Multitasking

 



I'm still hooked on the Eagle Cam.  These 2 eaglets are being well fed by Mom & Dad.  This spectacular camera work is making this so exciting.  You can watch all this HERE.  No signs yet that #3 is ready to join the family.

I have the elements for my latest cards nearly ready to assemble.  I've been practicing making bows with the fork, trying different ribbons.  I find that the softer ribbons are easier to shape on the fork.  It just takes a long time, doing this while watching the eagles.  I hope to have some cards finished some time today.

First, I have to go vote!  This is a local election, but I never miss a chance to make my choice known.

My latest 'addiction'

If you're wondering why I haven't been posting many cards, this is my latest addiction.  I have become hooked on watching the Eagle Cam.  This nest is 80 feet in the air, in a cottonwood tree on the grounds of a fish hatchery in Decorah, Iowa.  Bob Anderson did a very good job of setting up the cameras - one for daytime and an infrared camera for nighttime.  He even has zoom and pan capability.  It's really easy to get hooked on watching this.

Two eaglets have hatched and there's one more egg to go.  Mom and Dad take turn on the nest and gathering food.  In the above photo, Mom is closer to the camera (with gray eye shadow).  Dad is standing in back (he's smaller and has a whiter head).

The parents take turns feeding the hungry youngsters  Here's some screen captures I got today.  You can see that both littles get their share of the food.  It does get gross as they are dining on a musrat, who gave his all to keep these lovely birds alive.  They have also dined on rabbit, fish and crow.

There are a couple of sites where you can see more.  There are lots of videos on You Tube and there is a place on Facebook where you can keep up with the others who are watching.

I'm still trying to make cards, but it takes me a long time.  I've been coloring images with colored pencils when eagles are sleeping.  I'll try to post some soon.

Birds with bow

I finally made my first card with a bow tied with a fork.  I'm not real pleased with the bow.  I had to tape it down a lot to make it stay put.  I'll keep working on my technique.  The tutorial is HERE.

This image is from an old PSX stamp from 1996 that I had never used.  I stamped it in Memento rich cocoa ink onto white cardstock.  I colored the flowers, leaves and birds beaks with Prismacolor pencils, trying to keep a soft color.  Ovals are cut with Nestibilities and the background is a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

My Flower bed

These are my flowers that are blooming so far this spring.  There are pine trees in neighbors yard, so I have lots of pine needles on the ground.  I also have several lantanas that haven't started growing yet.  They just look like brown sticks, but will soon be green with flowers.

There are snapdragons and daisies blooming.  The daffodils just have leaves, no flowers.  I also Easter Lily leaves coming up - no flowers yet.

Sleeveless Blouse Card

This is my version of the Vest Card,  I made it to look like a sleeveless blouse, using a flower printed paper and adhesive backed rhinestones for buttons.

I have really lost my mojo lately and can't seem to come up with any new cards.  I started this one earlier and decided to finish it yesterday.  I keep trying to read other blogs to see if I can get some inspiration.  I think the spring weather has me more interested in the yard work than in card making.  I'm sure I'll get motivated, but it just hasn't happened in the last week.