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.

Texture added to dimension

These cards are the same as yesterdays, but I added some texture.  I put the background through the Big Shot with Cuttlebug embossing folders - swirls & dots.  I also lowered the knots in the ribbon to bring the focal point closer together.  Do you think the helped?

Texture & Dimension

This is my attempt to add some dimension to my cards.  I made this after watching the Saturday Seminar #2, presented on March 26, 2011.  You can read about it on the blog and watch the video on the Stars & Stamps blog.

I'm not sure I did much to add texture, but the ribbon is grosgrain and has a little texture and the scallops give that allusion.  I used dimensional foam mounting tape to raise the image and the sentiment a bit.  I placed the knot to even out the raised areas.  The layers help to separate the elements.  I'll work on this idea some more, but this is my first attempt.

This is a photo taken from the edge to help show the dimension.

My report on the OWH Design Seminar #2

The highlights of the Design Seminar this morning are posted HERE.  I watched it live on UStream and learned a lot.  You can watch the video of this show HERE.  It is called Seminar 2: Texture & Dimension.

The purpose of this seminar is to improve our card making designs, so that we can send better quality cards to our deployed troops to send to their families.  We should all be proud of the cards we make and do the things that we enjoy and do best.

I have learned that we all have differents talents and skills.  If we don't do something well, choose another technique.  I don't do a good job of coloring images and shading, so I rarely do that type of card.  Digis just aren't for me, but others love them. 

I can't seem to combine patterned papers to make a good finished card.  For this reason, I don't use them often.  I prefer to make my own backgrounds.  I also have problems with card sketches because most people use patterned paper for some of the elements.  I'm trying to learn, but I'm often not pleased with the result.

My goal is to keep learning so I can really be proud of the cards that I make.

Mom's Butterfly card

I'm eagerly awaiting the Design Seminar which begins in less than an hour on UStream.  While I'm waiting to learn more about Texture & Dimension, I've been practicing.  I'm curious to see if my ideas are correct.

This is a premade card base by DCWV.  I had difficulty finding paper and ribbon that didn't clash.  Who knew there were so many shades of brown.

I chose to stamp (Stampendous) on Valley Forge Parchment Paper - Olde Natural with Memento Rich Cocoa ink.  The Sentiment is computer generated and it's hard to get the right color with the printer.

The base card has blue dots in the center of each 'puff', so I chose blue as an accent color.  The butterfly is punched from pearlescent paper, with an oval pearl from Martha Stewart.  The punch is also by Martha Stewart.  I did pop the sentiment on some dimensional foam tape and the butterfly is only glued in the center, with the wings raised.