Thanks much for following my cards! It's such a delight to have you!

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:

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:

Alyssa Fairy
Topper is stuck in a piece of saltwater taffy as I had no cupcakes.  Of course I had to eat the stuck piece!

 All three together as the Iris and weed greenery is very pretty.  I have some work to do outside, don't I?

Well now, I think that is it so will bid you all a very fond ado.  Until next time, hugs from...
Manderly
xxxooo


Challenges :


Friday, March 30, 2012

RISE AND SHINE!

Hello!  
"Repurposing."  My spell check says that isn't a word--yet!  Definition: an object that is reused, meant for a different purpose and made into an embellishment.  This card repurposed pop-tops (no, not beer tops, but beer tops would work!) to hold the ribbon and the feathers came out of an old pillow.  I love that pillow.  The rooster stamp is a win from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, colored with Prisma Pencils and pop-dotted on a Spellbinder's "Lotus" die, a gift from Chrissy!  KKS sent a very nice package of stamps for their February blog hop win.  I still have several more to use!  They are really fun and good stamps.  Thanks again KKS!



Bye bye for now.  I'm looking forward to entering this fun card into a few challenges, listed below.  Wishing you all the best of days!
Manderly

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Test Run- Larry Fishing


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, March 14, 2012

Who Cut Down the Peach Tree?

I cannot tell a lie!  It was  "The Blizzard of 2011" or as some would call it, "The Beast."  We had the most beautiful peach tree in our backyard, from which this card was inspired.  Now there stands a satellite where our lovely peach tree use to be.  At least we got the satellite installer to move the dish to the side of the yard instead of in the middle of the yard (serious!) as he had planned- lol! 

This card was made for Gingerloft's Spring is in the Air Challenge-- going on now!  The image is called Flowering Tree.  Lovely, isn't it?  Very versatile.  I used the neatest layered paper-type flowers, compliments of Peggy at The Wired Angel (I will write more of her in a sec.  Wow, what a woman!  So giving, caring and talented!).  I colored them with chalk and added knotted crochet thread, colored yellow for the stamens. As for the tree, I rubbed various pigment brown inks on the trunk, cut the tree out while leaving the underlying flowers attached, and then outlined and interlaced the tree with twine, using small dots of glue.  The twine is again a Peggy exclusive!  Then I glued on the prepared flowers and leaves.  It was all quite sturdy, which surprised me!  The whole caboodle was then pop-dotted onto the easel card.  The border punch is a Fiskers, which I double-layered.  Love that punch!  Compliments of Peggy!    Finally, I added a bow (yes, a Peggy!) and glued a few flowers around, leaving a space for the sentiment.  


Are you getting the idea about Peggy now and what she did?   Yep, sent me a whole box of card making goodies-- punches, papers, papers, papers, brads, buttons, ribbons, Crop-a-dile, rub-ons, stamps, gems, oh, you name it, she probably sent it!  And she said she was excited to do it!  Can you believe that?  The whole thing was her treat.  I don't know which one of us was more excited!  I am still in awe of her kindness.  It is so nice to want to do something to a card that I couldn't before, and bingo!  There it is, via Peggy!  When you get a chance, please go meet Peggy at The Wired Angel.  She is amazing.  Thank you, Peggy.  I am very touched.
Night all.
Manderly
xxxooo


P.S.  The little butterflies are from Chrissy at chrissy's cardland.  Remember she sent some cut shapes all the way from New Zealand!?   I added a light layer of that clear glitter in a tube stuff to them...another Peggy exclusive!  I think I am getting spoiled and I like it!

I am having a go at the following challenges:
Digital Tuesdays- #152 Life is Peachy
Fussy and Fancy
Little Darlings- #19 Spring is in the Air!
PaperCrafting Journey- PCJ #5 Pretty Pastels
Flutterby Wednesdays- Anything Goes
Just Inspirational Challenges- Photo Inspiration  - 1st PLACE WIN!
Crafty Ann's- #61 Spring into Spring!
Delicious Doodles- The Wonder of Life

Phindy's Place- #97 Spring has Sprung!

Stampin' for the Weekend DT- Photo Inspiration
Little Claire's- Spring/Easter

Totally Gorjuss- #123 Spring!
Truly Madly Crafty Challenges- Colour Inspiration
Ladybug Crafts Ink- Anything Goes!
Getting Cricky- Simply Sunday Challenge Favorite Project