Manderly: April 2012

Monday, April 30, 2012

Climbing up, Mate?

Good day to ye', Matey!

This little guy below looks like he's having a good day, doesn't he? All sorts of eucalyptus to eat and a nice tree to sit in! You can give his brother (or whatever!) a nice tree to climb too if you go to Gingerloft and enter this fortnight's challenge- a Gingerloft Freebie Challenge! Go and grab Koala and the sentiment freebies! It's exciting for us to see your entries, so show us what you can do with this great freebie image from Gingerloft!

My DT entry is called a Teepee card. You can find Paul's fantastic tutorial at Crafty Blogocks. Very talented gentleman. Anyway, I had a few Teepee cards already assembled, just waiting for the right image to use, and Bingo! Gingerloft's Koala climbing up the side! He is colored with Prisma Pencils and OMS. I did a silhouette copy of him also, glued his back-end together and wrapped Koala's little paws around the tree. Pop-dotted his nose.

The tree is out of corrugated cardboard that I stripped to make look like peeling eucalyptus. Glued it all going up the side of the Teepee card, adding some branches also. I took a few Prismas and colored the corrugated ridge tops beige, recessed areas very dark brown and shady sides a very dark olive- to create some life and add depth. For the leaves, I cut apart and downsized some green flowers (hated to do it, but you know how it is!) that Peggy from The Wired Angel sent me and glued them on the branches, saving the shavings to add as grass at the bottom of the tree. Added a dash of orange to brighten it all and attached computer generated sentiments. The bird pattern came from Peggy also, so I traced them on to pale yellow card stock that matches the sentiment backgrounds. Here is a side view that shows how the Teepee stands:

The other side wraps around and closes the card. In the picture below you can see a little dot of Velcro on the left lower mid corner. That's how you close the Teepee. Ribbon can also be used as a closure. Funny, I just happened to have some Velcro because one day I was almost out of pop-dots, ready to panic, and my dear hubby offered to go to the store. Now I have Velcro. Sweetheart! He tried. It's great, too, that the Teepee lays flat when fully opened so it won't be very difficult to mail.

I think that about covers it for today. Except that I hope to see you at Gingerloft's Challenge Blog. Grab the Koala, take a peek at my lovely teamie's creations, create a Koala of your own, and have a fun time while you're at it, Mate!

Manderly

xxxooo

I am entering the following challenges:
(please take a look at these fantastic challenge sites!):
Make it Monday- #87 Anything Goes!
Craft Your Passion- #108 Textures
Paper Pretties- Shaped Cards
Whoopsi Daisy- Pile on the Flowers!
Made Especially For You- Color Combo
Joanna Sheen- Flower Power
Ladybug Crafts Ink- #59 Birthday
Fussy and Fancy- #61 Punches and Dies
LEJ Designs- #1 (New Challenge Blog!) Anything Goes
Digi Designs- Animal Friends
Penny's Paper-Crafty- #78 Happy Birthday
Creative Belli- Belli Challenge #142 Animal Friends and Candy too!
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturdays- Birthday
Inspire Me Fridays /Joyful Stamper- Anything Goes!
Fairy Tale- #40 Green and Yellow
Hybrid Chick Card Caravan- #18 Nature

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Update on "Test Run...Larry Fishing"

Hello there!

I don't want poor Larry Fishing getting lost back in the posts, so thought I would give an update on where he is! He is now on Larry's Mancave wall! All mounted and framed, just "hanging" around waiting for the right time to make his move.

And some happy news too...Helene of Alota Stamps has taken Uncle "Don Fishing!" (Store name for this fantastic rubber stamp.) What I really mean is that she is "using" (poor Larry to be taken advantage of like that) his picture to spotlight Don Fishing. EWWW, it made me squeal in delight to see him there. Thank you, Helene! You can see Don here in the Alota Bugs Card Gallery. While you are there, check out Alota's other bugs and stamping categories. There is such great variety and super cool stamps to be had!

That's it, my UPDATE. I hope to show Larry in all his glory very soon. Take time to smell the roses this weekend. I think I mean get out there and do some gardening. But who can pull themselves away from creating? Very hard. Unless you are a friend who is in winter, then you have a legitimate excuse because you have to stay inside all warm and toasty and dry, so you may as well be crafting! My very best to you all.

Manderly

xxxooo

March 21, 2012

Original Post:

Hello!

Just wanted to share with you my first colored pencil picture. I am making something out of the image on the right for my 20 year Anniversary...two weeks late! I couldn't wait to post at least the picture and hear what you have to say about the coloring. The picture on the right was done on white paper and my second attempt. The left is on beigy-type and my first try. I'm not sure if I did the water right. Or the shading right. Or anything right for that matter! Used OMS, Prisma pencils and colorless blender, and an eraser. I sure enjoyed the coloring and think I have found the medium I like to work with best. So, I would like your tips, critique, and suggestions, please! The rubber stamp is a win from Alota Rubber Stamps (thank you, Alota!) named "Don Fishing," renamed "Larry Fishing!" Larry has loved to fish since he was a little boy and always has a fish story for me. They never got away! Sweet, don't you think? I think maybe Larry would rather have been fishing for the last 20 years! LOL! I am very blessed to have him. A big thank you for taking a peek and I hope you are doing OK. I really mean that!

Bye bye for now!

Manderly

xxxooo

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Silhouette Three

Masked, hand painted with small paintbrush and water color pencil lead on white CS. Mounted and made into a card for my brother's birthday. Browns with pink flowers
Craft A Scene #4

Also entering these fantastic challenge sites:
Make it Monday #86 Anything Goes!!!
Art Impressions Stamps- #60 Rain or Shine!
Crafty Bloggers Network- #20 Love Paints!
LEJ Designs- #1 (New Challenge Blog!) Anything Goes
Ruby's Rainbow- #77 Brown and Pink
ATC's & Cards With Attitude- One Layer/ Anything Goes

Silhouette Two

One of a few of my Silhouettes to enter into the Craft A Scene Challenge #4

Masked and painted with small paint brush and water color pencils

Other Challenges:
Make it Monday- Anything Goes!!!
Art Impressions Stamps- #60 Rain or Shine!
Crafty Bloggers Network- #20 Love Paints!
Can You Dig It- Sunrise/Sunset
LEJ Designs- #1 (New Challenge Blog!) Anything Goes
ATC's & Cards With Attitude- One Layer/Anything Goes

Silhouette One

Posting a few of the Silhouettes I have done to enter into the Craft A Scene Challenge #4

Masked and stamped with unknown stamp

Other Challenges:
Make it Monday-Anything Goes!!!
For Your Inspiration- FYI#28 Photo Inspiration

LEJ Designs- Challenge #1 (New Challenge Blog!) Anything Goes

Monday, April 16, 2012

Harlequin-- Lover or Buffoon?

Hi there!

Took me a bit, but I said I would be back to edit my original post so here I am! I retook pictures, changing the bottom two. They look much better and closer to how the card really looks. The reason for this edit is that I want to tell you about who this card is for and a little bit about Harlequin. This edit was made Tuesday evening, April 24th.

I didn't originally set out to make Harlequin for my sister but after she saw a picture of the card in progress, she said "Oh, I love clowns!." After completing the sentiment, I thought "Bingo! This card is perfect for her"! I don't want to get too personal but of anyone in the world, I would love to act ridiculous in front of my Baby Sis and make her have a good, deep belly laugh! In short, she is totally devoted to taking care of our parents. I believe it takes someone very special to be a caregiver and my sister is that someone special! My brother and I live in other states and are unable to help her out, so she rarely leaves home to get a break, fearful of leaving them alone. I am so very, very grateful to my Baby Sis for all she does and for giving up her own life for the comfort of Mom and Dad. I adore the person she is. Soooo, I am hoping that when she receives this silly Harlequin, he will put a smile on her face and let her know how much I love her.

Now about Harlequin... I was interested to know what it was that I was using as an image. The definitions sure do vary! It seems today that we think of Harlequin as a clown, but that isn't what he originally started out as. I don't want to get myself in trouble here by having the wrong definition as there are many variations, but the one I like best is that Harlequin was the main character in a French play, dating way back to the 1500's. He was originally a shabby dressed, nimble lover pursing the lovely and dainty Colombina, with other characters like an adversary, a clown, and Colombina's father. Harlequin was known for his masked face also. I like that he was a trickster, entertaining with his somersaults and back-flips but I like best of all that he was a romantic, pursing his love. I wonder if this is where Harlequin Romance novels derived their name. I'm sure this bit of trivia just made your day!

Back to the sentiment...I hope you have a Harlequin in your life today! Someone who will be ridiculous in front of you, just to make you smile. And wouldn't it be fun to be a Harlequin for someone else too!?

See you all soon! Happy trails to you...until we meet again (wasn't that line in an old Western song?)

Manderly

xxxooo

This is my Design Team Gingerloft Black, White and a Dash of Red Challenge inspiration card! This card was really fun to make and interesting to do with the above named colors. I did pretty good on dashing red just on the image and flowers but went a little too much red on the background. Does having no black card stock count?

Please excuse the picture quality. It was difficult to take pictures during tornado weather. Unless we are in Oz, of course! I text-ed my family and told them they could get a hold of us at todo@yahoo.com. Or Twitter Auntie Em. They didn't reply or laugh

PS A little about the creation of Harlequin: the roses and pinwheels are handmade by Manderly...me :-). The leaves were traced and cut from a modified Spellbiinders leaf template. Bling IT gems were added to the pinwheels and table flowers, (colored with Crayola markers because you guessed it- no black or red gems!). The image is from Gingerloft, Harlequin Collage, colored with pencils. All was double pop-dotted onto red vellum, then onto a black card stock base before adhering to easel. I computer generated the sentiment, glued on the music notes, framed all with black Prisma pencil to match the image frame and pop-dotted onto easel base. I also added a white piece of card stock, framed black, and adhered it to the inside portion so a note could be written to the receiver.

Challenges I am entering:

Alota Rubber Stamps- #81 Easel Card

For Your Inspiration- #27 Photo Inspiration

Joanna Sheen- Someone Special

Love to Create- #11 Friends

My Craft Spot- #52 Make it Pop!

Pile It On!- #16 Pop It Up!

Wags' N Whiskers- #77 Anything Goes

Delicioius Doodles- #17 Loads of Layers

Truly Madly Crafty- Make your own Flowers

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Gingerloft Fun!

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are having a happy day. Lots of sunshine over here. Love the summer. Some of you are just entering winter. Funny how we can't seem to wait for the seasons to change, unless you live in sunny California, which hasn't been that sunny this year! What am i here for? Oh yes, Gingerloft fun...lots of it going on this week and the next! First, Gingerloft is now on Facebook and Tami is giving away FREEBIES! So head on over to FB, become a follower and grab yours! This week she is giving away this perfect

Wire Fence:

I really have a thing for a good fence! Just love fences. There are so many uses for them- great additions to a scene and they look beautiful standing (or laying) alone, too.

Next, we have our winners for the Birthday Challenge. The Top 3, with an opportunity to be a Gingerloft Guest Designer, are Mandy, Lisbeth, and Cabio. Grab your Top 3 badge and let Tami know if you would like to Guest Design. Congratulations! Well done! Mr. RandomDude picked #91. Sandy's Stamping Scene has won her choice of 3 Gingerloft Store digis! Lots of great images for you to choose from, Sandy. Thank you for entering the Happy Birthday Challenge!

And last, but most certainly very worthy of note, is Gingerloft's Current Challenge, GL37 Anything But A Card, running until midnight, April 14th. You HAVE to check out Guest Designer Grandma's Pearl, using a Tilda stamp. Stunning! Plus, all of us humble Design Team member examples are there for you to see and hopefully be inspired by. This really is a fun challenge! Hope to see your entry! I would have loved to make something over the top for this challenge, but alas, due to happenings beyond my control, I resorted to good ol' tags and a cupcake topper. Here they are:

Vintage Peacock

This gift tag was colored with Prisma Pencils and mounted on a chip-board scroll, smothered with blue, green and purple chalk (dirty hands style). Added some Bling IT jewels, cut a metal paperclip scroll in half for the corners and placed all on vintage paper by Stampin' Up. I love vintage and really want to learn how to do. A secret...I Binged vintage patterns so I could learn a little something. That's how I picked the background paper. I also noticed that vintage patterns use scrolls, and TaDa! This is what you get from all my learnin'!

My last tag and cupcake topper were just plain fun to make. Lots of sparkle. Used glitter glue on the topper because I don't think any of the kiddies would like to chew on grit (grits?) from falling glitter. I glued real glitter on the tag and sprayed it with a sealer. It stays on well. I have also used hairspray, which works good, too. In making the topper, I reversed one of the images to glue on the backside, toothpick in-between. One thing I would go back and change is the large flower that Alyssa the Fairy is holding. I would put in a little flower bouquet as her hands are perfectly posed for that. All depends on how much work you want to go to for the wee one's party. 25 toppers could take some time! Here is Alyssa in all her glory: