Home of the Brave

Hello, Friends!  Today's card uses a technique called Jacob's or Joseph's Coat.  It requires a brayer, ink pads, clear embossed images, and black dye ink over the last coat which is also then wiped dry.  I love the muted colors created with this technique.  It's for a challenge at the MFP blog and for some masculine/Father's Day oriented challenges.  After blog hopping at OWH, I felt so patriotic and wanted to incorporate that theme as well.  It may also be entered in these challenges as well:  Paper Crafting Journey - 2W - (W1 of 2)  Masculine cards;   Delightful Challenges - W, 1E, SIO - For Dad;  Shelly's Images - 2W, SIO - (W2 of 2) Anything Goes;  Word Art Wednesday--Anything Goes; Make It Monday--Anything Goes;  The Pink Elephant Challenge--Stars and Stripes, Victorine Stamps--Father's Day or Masculine.

Weathered Ribbon

This card is for a Tutorial Time challenge at MFP/SpeedyTV at http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/tutorial-time-on-speedy-tv-challenge-50-5-22-13.  It requires heating ribbon to created a different effect.  I think it is rather interesting and will use it on future cards.  Thanks for stopping by!  See you next time!

Caution! Workmen!

Wonder if I will be able to create any cards today?  Or even think?  We are always complaining that when someone says, "We'll be there Tuesday," we always wonder which Tuesday.  Well, for a week, one crew has been building a car port and today, our driveway is filled with trucks and there are workmen everywhere!  There is shingle repair on one side of the house, siding repair on the other, and roofing on the new carport.  A "tree guy" even came to give us an estimate on a dead hemlock.  It's a chilly, breezy, beautiful day and there is sawing and hammering everywhere.  It's great entertainment for my DH, but he doesn't know which way to turn to watch the action.  I may just stay inside and read!

Cat Portrait

Hello again!  Just posting my Portrait of a Cat card for the Tutorial Time Challenge at Speedy TV/MFP.  It uses the paper frame tech they are focusing on this week with a Spellbinders pendant frame.  I never make square cards and almost never complete a card without dry embossing of some kind so this surprised me.  Thanks for stopping by!

An Elephant Never Forgets a Birthday

An elephant never forgets a birthday, and definitely not a child's birthday.  Here is another card for a child and this time it's a birthday for the FOSTV challenge at Mark's Finest Papers and Creative Creations Challenges.  It uses a Cuttlebug embossing folder with Adirondack inks applied for a direct to paper technique, Spellbinders ovals, and  an Inkadinkado image.

Gator Says Smile!

This card with an image from Darcie's will make anyone smile and I think it will be perfect for a child for the Friends of Speedy TV challenge at MFP and Creative Creations.  Did it make you smile?

Paper Frame TY

Here's a paper frame card for Speedy TV/Tutorial Time.  It uses a sentiment from the MFP Autumn Friends Mini set and K and Co double-sided paper.  Enjoy--and thanks for being my blogging friend!

Space Travel

This card uses distress inks over heat embossed clear foam images.  It was created for a challenge at Speedy TV/Inspiration.  I call it Space Travel and it will be mailed to a friend who is retiring in a few weeks.   Thanks for stopping by!

Starry, Starry Night

Lois's swirling sky photo at Speedy TV--Inspiration reminded me of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry, Starry Night .  Recently, I acquired a Museum Company stamp of that art work and I thought it would be perfect for this challenge.  One of my humanities students once told me it reminded him of outer space over France.  Children can be so creative.  So here is my rendition using markers.  Van Gogh is shuddering at my attempt, but I still like the image against the dry embossed TH brick wall.

Greetings from Afar

Happy Monday!  Today's cards is a card to send to a friend to remind them I am in a new location.  I hope it meets the requirements for several challenges so I will enter it into:  MFP/Speedy TV Sketch--uses nature colors, the photo, blue of the sky, green for grass and uses an image from their Train Talk set;  also for these challenges:
Crafty Creations -- Keep it simple
Crafty Ribbons -- No dp (Used a picture for the background for the train)

House That Stamps Built  -- Masculine (Trains seem very masculine to me)

Little Claire's -- Anything goes

One Stop Craft Shop -- Anything goes

Paper Shelter -- Anything goes

Stamp n Doodle -- Anything goes

Sister Act -- Anything goes

Through the Craft Room Door -- Anything goes

Whimsy Inspiration -- Anything goes

 613 Avenue--Anything goes

Flip Flop Get Well

Sunday is catch-up day for posting cards so here's a flip flop card that will be entered at Sweet Stamps and Flutterby Wednesdays.   The other side of the "flip" part says Get Well Soon!

HB for a Guy

Time to work on a HB card for my brother-in-law.  Because I am sure he is tired of the vintage auto image that I seem to rely on for masculine birthday cards, I pulled out MFP's Celebrate mini set.  I love the birthday cake and the font used for the sentiment.  Inside it says:  Over the hill is better than under it!  I think he will get a real chuckle out of the sentiment.  This also fits the Sketch with a Twist challenge at Speedy TV.  Thanks for stopping by!  Be sure to leave a comment or become a follower if you can.

Friends Are Birds of a Feather

Hello!  My mind is on birds right now because we have a nest nearby and the parental units keep banging into windows on all sides on our house on their way to feed the little ones.  We are so afraid they will do themselves in.  We think we may have narrowed down the identification of the bird family to Eastern Phoebes.  So when MFP/Simple Salutations announced a challenge called Birds of a Feather, I pulled out my UM stamps in CD cases and I am making cards with all the images in the case.  The sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers, a set called Autumn Friends.  The image may be Inkadinkado or Impression Obsession.  Check out the entries at Sweet Pea Stampers as well!  Enjoy your day and listen for the birds!

Birdie Oh So Black and White

Welcome!  Today's card uses a corner mini-embossing folder from inside a circle to create a new embossing pattern.   I love this clear bird stamp and it seems perfect for the window challenge at MFP/Speedy Fox and Friends and the Birds of a Feather challenge at Sweet Pea Stampers.

I'm a Big Fan

Hello!  The challenge says find something in your house to inspire you.  I looked around and found that we have quite a few old fans.  I have 2 in my studio, my husband has one in his shop, and I have one in a bedroom.  So that became my inspiration for this card:

My Cuttlebug got a workout with this one and I think the color combo is just quirky enough to work.   The card is for a challenge at Friends of Speedy TV #72.  Thanks for stopping by!

Sponging and Bleaching Background

 Back again with another acrylic paint background.  This time the acrylic paints were applied to card stock using wadded up toilet tissue.  Yes, that is correct, toilet paper.  I sponged on some subtle peach and mauve colors and then added gold paint as the final layer.  Applying the paint in this way adds color AND texture to the piece and makes the paper appear to be handmade.  The angel was black heat embossed on black card stock and bleached to lighten the interior of the image.  MS corner punching and a black card stock layer and then a kraft card blank.  This card will be entered in the Tutorial Time challenge on Speedy TV/MFP with the theme of using acrylic paints and in Nutcrafters Challenge , Paula Holifield Crafts,  and Stampavie because it uses kraft paper/card stock.  Whimsical Designs is calling for a Mixed Media project.   Stop by again soon!

Acrylic Paint Plus

Hello again, Friends!  I've been in the studio playing with acrylic paint and this time pouncing it onto watercolor paper and adding Pearl-Ex and LiquiTex Iridescent Medium. I love purple and green together and thought another birthday card was just the thing.  This card will be entered into the Tutorial Time challenge at Speedy TV/MFP.  Stop by again to see if I ever put these acrylic paints away!

Bandana Technique Card

Hello, Friends!  Today's card uses a painted acrylic background paper, Staz-on stamped images, and a white gel pen to create the Bandana technique.  It will be entered at Tutorial Time at Speedy TV/MFP for a challenge.  I've been playing with acrylic paint this morning so expect another post or two.  Stop by again soon!

Got Glitter? Got Bling!

Hello, Friends!  Today's card is "Got Glitter?"  The challenge is to use glitter at MFP/Speed TV's Speedy Fox and Friends and I found this glittery flower in my stash.  I wanted to add some vibrant color and I think these patterned papers do the trick, don't you?  What could add more bling than glitter for a challenge at Created with Love and Lawnscaping.  And I always seem to need BD cards, so I used an MFP sentiment..... After I took the photo, I popped up the flower image and sentiment and deemed it "done".  See this card also at Word Art Wednesday.  Thanks for stopping by!

Cupcake!

All these items were on my worktable from last fall so I was working "out of the basket" as I call it. Although I have unpacked my supplies in our new location, none are put in their places so finding anything is a real challenge.  Speaking of challenges, this card is for the Something Good To Eat challenge at Simple Salutations 44 at MFP. It will also be entered at Word Art Wednesday.   Stop by again!

Leaves, Kraft, Friends

Kraft color base, speckle stamp, random stamped leaf panels tied with a cord, and a friends sentiment.   It's for the Sketch with a Twist challenge at Mark's Finest Papers/Speedy TV.  Thanks for stopping by!

A Card Can Tell a Whole Story

Faux Leather and Wax Paper Resist

Sometimes a card can tell a whole story.  A journey through the SW, Indian pictographs on cave walls or animal images burned onto leather, sandy and parched ground...That's how this card came to be.  Techniques:  the wax paper resist for one layer, stamped faux leather from the MFP/Speedy Fox and Friends challenge.  It's a masculine-themed using warm colors so it will also be entered in the following challenges:  Use Your Stuff--add texture;  Paper Creator Crafts- for the boys;  Delicious Doodles--something for the boys;  Word Art Wednesday--anything goes, and these blogs as well:
613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
Ellapu - 2E - Anything Goes
Catch The Bug - 3E, SIO - Anything Goes
Our Creative Corner - 3E  M - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays– Hosted on New Blog - 101 - Anything Goes!
Sister Act Card Challenge - W, Cards. Always Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey - 2W - (W1 of 2)  Anything Goes
Make it Monday - W - always Anything Goes

Dragonflies

Hello, Crafty Friends!  My second post today because I have a special card to share with you.  Dragonflies are very close to my heart because as an amateur photographer, I just can't seem to catch a photo of them. So I love dragonfly images.  The dragonfly you see here is sparkling with Twinkling H2O's.  The background paper is special as well.  It is a wax crayon resist  technique creating a batik effect that is fun and uncomplicated to do.  The effects are so interesting and adding the dragonfly images stamped to the background paper adds more dimension to the piece.  I was inspired to create this card because of a challenge on Crafting with Dragonflies.  It will be entered in several other challenges.  Allsorts -Add some sparkle;  Catch The Bug  - Anything Goes;   Inspire Me Fridays– Anything Goes!;  Sister Act Card Challenge - Cards, Always Anything Goes;  ABC Challenge - Make it Sparkle;  Alota Rubber Stamps - Bugs, bugs, bugs;  Our Creative Corner - Anything goes;  Sweet Stamps - Stamped background paper

Signs of the Orient

Hello again!  Today I have an Oriental "twinchie" card to share and a card that will be entered in the Inspiration Challenge at MFP/Speedy TV.   The red layer is heat embossed with gold and the twinchies are black and white images.  I love the red, black, and white combination with the touch of gold.  Hope you like it too!  Stop by again!

Muslin/Tissue Paper Tutorial

Hello, Paper Artists!  Welcome back to A Fourth Life.  Because I attended parochial schools and was on the business track in high school, I never was able to take art classes as electives.  That may be why I love to make backgrounds for my cards using art supplies.  Today, I have another mini-tutorial using muslin, magazine photos, glue, silver paint, and tissue paper. I am hoping Victorine Original Stamps--Mother's Day, and Speedy TV/FOSTV--tissue paper like my finished product.   Cut a piece of muslin and coat it with white liquid glue.  Attach cut out glossy photos from your favorite magazines to create a collage effect.  Let dry completely.  Coat again with white glue and crinkle tissue paper and lay on top.  Let it dry completely.  Dry brush silver paint in parts of the sheet of paper.  Use this background paper to make your card.  You might consider making the design and embellishments simple since the background will be so striking and textured.  Thanks for stopping by!

This card will be entered in the following challenges:
Splendiferous Creations--a feminine touch;  Broken Box Stock -- Mother's Day;  Make It Monday--Anything Goes;  Brown Sugar--Mother's Day;  Chocolate Coffee Cards--Mother's Day;  Creative Corner--Mother's Day;  Dilly Beans--the word Mother on the card;  Crafter's Cafe--Mother;  DL.Art Thankful Thursday--Anything Goes;  Word Art Wednesday--Anything Goes

Twinkle! A Tissue Mini-Tutorial

Another post!  The challenge is to use tissue and I was inspired to make this star card.  So here is a tutorial for a new technique for you.  Brush on acrylic paint or drag a vibrant ink pad over a piece of white card stock.  Let dry.  Squeeze on any liquid glue that will dry clear and take a piece of plain or patterned tissue paper and crush so that it will have wrinkles.  Apply it to the card stock, let it dry, and trim the edges.  Now you can stamp images or sentiments directly onto the tissue or apply another layer with your sentiment as I did here.  Attach the tissue layer to your card blank and your card is complete.  This particular card has glitter paint as a background for the sentiment (twinkle) and the image (dotted star) both stamped in black.  Hope you enjoyed this informal tutorial and that you will stop in again to see what I am up to.  This card will be uploaded to Friends of Speedy TV at Mark's Finest Papers for this weeks challenge and Through the Craft Room Door--Anything Goes.   See you soon!

Star Dreams

My second post today!  I've created a card called Blue and White Star Dreams.  I had a particular little boy in mind who should always have sweet dreams and who wears denim, denim, denim.   It was created with a burlap background stamp using denim distress ink and trimmed with deckle decorative scissors.  The stamp is a favorite but of unknown origin because it was unmounted long ago.   Not too much ribbon was applied so it wouldn't get too "girly" and my Sketch with a Twist challenge card over at MFP/Speedy TV was completed.  It will also be entered into the Stamping Chef "for a boy" challenge, that is, if Mr. Linky let me play along! And Through the Craft Room Door--Anything Goes.  Thanks for peeking in again!

In Stitches Easel

Here is a vintage type easel card using MFP's In Stitches set and an Inkadinkado inchie as well.  It's for a MFP/Speedy Fox challenge here. The dp is K & Company and the inks are TH's distress inks.  I think the card has a homey antique feel to it and I hope you like it.  Thanks for stopping by!