Purple Art Impressions

 A friend of mine was the guest designer for the Monthly challenge at Art Impressions.  So many challenges, so little time.  But I do like purple, so I had to make another card since I had the Art Impression stamps out on my desk still.  

I always get a giggle out of this image, but I have to say that this old gal is way better than me.

 I wouldn't last 5 minutes on that skateboard at this stage of my life. I know because I've tried.

 

Time for another Art Impression Challenge

 The challenges at Art Impressions happen bi-weekly so they come around quickly in my life.  But The challenge of Not Just Paper for this one just called me to make another card.  

My card is only one layer - well I guess you could consider the clothing a second layer.  

It's pieced on to these gals - Stamped the image on the fabric scraps and then carefully cut out the clothing item and glue it over the stamped image on the card.   I used fabric for the blue pants and the yellow and green shirts.  I also used little metal discs for the earrings the gals are wearing.  I colored the remaining parts of the image with Copic markers, then masked the image and added an ink blended background.  The image is from Live, Laugh, Love - CS15.  The inside of the card has the remainder of the sentiment, which reads . . . "Well, two out of three ain't bad".

 It was a lot of fun making a wardrobe for these ladies.  Wish I could make my own clothes that fast -

 I'd really like those blue pants.  

 

Lucky Me!

 I just won a Free Stamp set of my choice at Art Impressions!  I entered the last stamp Bi -Weekly challenge and I was lucky enough to win the random winner spot.

These funny Art Impressions stamps always give me a giggle.  I have several of their sets and now I will own another one.  How awesome is that!

 

Two ways to think of Home

There is usually more than one way to look at something.  I love this art Impressions stamp set, because home is just in how you look at it, too.  

I made this fun card with the stamp set His and Hers campers and I am entering it in the bi-weekly challenge at Art Impressions.

  

I used a pin dot plate for the background and added some inking over it.  I stamped the greeting directly on the background.  I stamped the images, colored them with Copics and fussy cut them out.  Then I arranged them on the card with the "Home" at the center top and the couple and their pup relaxing in front.  I kept a limited color palette with Yellow, blue and green with a couple neutrals to finish some details.    

All of the Art impressions Stamps have always appealed to me.  I have quite a few so I may have to make another card with more of them soon.  So many stamps, so little time.  

Travel Watercolor

 Our family gathered to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. We spent a little while at our younger daughter's house before the gathering and I sketched and water colored a barrel of Iris she had in her yard.  I am entering it in the Tic,Tac Toe Challenge for this week.  It's not a fantastic watercolor but it was fun having my paints with me.  

Here are a few Photos from our family adventures. 

A Cake to Celebrate

A Place to Gather (Bryce Canyon - Utah)

Things to see - Dinosaur Tracks

Hoo Doos

Canyons and Switch Backs on the trail

Wall Street (Slot Canyon)

 Most of us at Sand Caves near Kanab Utah

And I'll end this post with a card I made at a friends house on the way to start the family time. 

Appropriate as we were all gathered over Father's Day.  

Who says retirement is relaxing!

 Since we (my hubby and I) have both retired, we seem to be busier than ever.  Of course, we move slower than we used to as well.  I'm not sure if it's the busy, or the slow that keeps me from getting everything done that I'd like to.  Maybe I just like to do too many things.  

Here are some of the cards I have created and received in the last few months.  

The Card chain Challenge is gaining new members every month. 

 why don't you come and join us.  

This beautiful floral panel is so shimmery and cool.  I just love the card

 I received in February from Greta in OR

This is the card I sent out to Joanne in CT for the month of February.

I was in a celebratory mood.  

I received this card from Arlene in CA for the month of March.  

I love all of the plants in the various compartments.  She put a lot of detail into this work of art.  

This is the Card I sent out to Brenda in UK.  I was so glad to learn that she actually has chickens and could appreciate what I was trying to convey in my pop-up card. 

In April I was lucky enough to receive the fun shaped card from Chris in IL.  

She really put the colors to perfect use and this card even rocks.

I did love the colors this month and I couldn't get myself away from flowers to use them. 

I sent my card out to Arlene in CA, just a switch from last month. 

Since we are still a week or so away from the May reveal.  I will have to wait to add those cards.  

I'll see the Card Chain Gang on the second. 

  Let me see if I can accomplish some of my housework now. 

(if I don't get sidetracked with something more fun,)

Marching On

 The year continues Marching on - too fast for my liking.  I have been busy making cards but can't seem to find the time to post them as well.  

Here are the cards I designed for my card class this month and I am entering the bird one in the Just Us Girls challenge for the last half of March.  

The background paper on this one is some wrapping paper that I saved for a while and finally decided to use it - it worked well for a rather jungle background for my Toucan.  I added some large die-cut leaves and a flower to his jungle habitat.  The inside has a few more stamped leaves and a flower with a banner that says thank you.  

This is the only gatefold card I have made for ages.  I don't know why- just get into the folded in the middle of the card base routine.  The welcoming window set is fun to use with all the flowers and things you can add to the window.  I kept this one pretty simple with just stamped and die-cut window and shutters then added the flowers popped up along with the sentiment so it could latch the card. 

This AI stamp has been in my collection for quite some time.  Decided to use it for a Splitcoaststampers Technique Challenge this week.  

And I had to make my daughter a birthday card as well.  She had asked me to make her a bookmark.  So I made the bookmark, Heat embossed some flowers in black and then water colored them.  then I stamped more of the flowers and used the same treatment on them.  I tore the edge of that panel and added it to a background I had stenciled. I added a frame for the bookmark to slip into.  Not really fancy but she liked it.  And it will be nice she will use part of the card instead of having it just sit on a shelf.  

I've had to make several get well cards lately.  I made this one for the leader of my women's church group to use when we have someone become ill.  I did another one for her as well to keep on hand but forgot to take a picture of it.  My first thought is usually a picture, but not this time. 

This is the beginning of my church cards for April.  I have 7 more to make, so I had better get busy instead of putting pictures on here.  But I do like to share the cards I make and hope you enjoy seeing them.  I will be back soon, because the reveal will be coming up for the Card Chain challenge. 

I'll see you then.