Joint Effort

This year's Father's Day card was a creation from both Allan and me.  Allan is always the photographer on our trips and took this really cool landscape shot of the wheat fields in Walla Walla, Washington when we went for our joint birthday trip.  I just loved the colors and the balance of the old barn against the rolling landscape.

I used some old Gina K Designs patterned paper and some scrap card stock.  Still whittling away at my scraps.  Also embellished with some blue Candies.  They add a nice touch without making the card too bulky for the mail.

This blog as been so neglected these last several months.  It isn't that I haven't been crafting - it's just that I've been doing in it fits and spurts.  And now with summer here, it's hard to justify being inside when it's so gorgeous out.  But I gave myself the gift of the day today for my birthday to do whatever my little old heart desired and it's been SO-so fun!

Hope to see you back here soon.

Cars and Fathers

I had an inspiration for Father's Day cards this year.  It started with this photo I saw on Pinterest that made me think of Hippy Bob and his love for beautiful cars.  I just loved the graphic nature of this photo.  

I then found this simple sketch on SplitCoastStampers, turned it on it's side, combined it with one of my favorite 6x6 paper packs and came up with a card. 

One father down, two to go :-). . . .

The topic of cars has been swirling in the family as of late.  During our recent trip to New Bern, Allan said his dad was telling him stories about his first really nice car - a 1949 Ford.  I found I cool image on Google and used it on his card.  I loved how the colors in the images worked so well with the patterned papers. I took the time on this card to ink the edges of the image and the sentiment.  I think it really added to the nostalgia of the card.

Two fathers down, one to go. . . .

The most recent car story involved my Dad's beloved Crown Victoria (which the family affectionately calls "Miss Priss").  Dad was driving to work at the school a few weeks ago and another elderly gentleman pulled out in front of him and crushed the front right side of the car.  Thankfully no one was hurt but Dad was devastated.  Miss Priss was his pride and joy.  I'll spare all the details about the fights with the insurance companies involved and just focus on his card.  

I turned to Google once again and found this wonderful image of a 1955 Crown Vic and used that as the focal point on his card.  Cool car, huh?!  Notice I balanced out the card a little on my third attempt and added another strip of striped paper to the right of the center panel.  I liked this version the best.  How about you?  Which version do you think works best?

Here's to my wonderful Dad with hopes that Miss Priss will be back to good soon.

Here's to Hippy Bob and all of his interesting thoughts, feelings and observations about this wonderful world.

Here's to my father-in-law Ernest whose strength and determination inspires me and all who know him.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Another distressed wood

Remember the Father's Day card I posted last week?  Well here's another using the same technique and sketch. The technique really reminded me of weathered wood in a seaside cottage.  The image is another digital download from Stampin' Up - "By the Seashore".  Instead of the brads I did something a little different as this card was a family newsletter card and I try to keep those flat.  I took my mini-hole punch and punched tiny circles and then glossed them up using Crystal Effects.  I really like how that turned out.  May have to do more of that.

Hope you enjoyed the long weekend.  See ya' tonight.

Father's Day

I couldn't find where I posted this card I made for all my father's this year - my Dad, Hippy Bob and Ernest (Allan's father).  I loved how it turned out!  I used this technique I saw on the Gina K blog where you score every half inch and then rub an inkpad over the raised surface until it looks like barn wood.  I downloaded a digital stamp set (Countryside) from Stampin' Up and did just minimal colored pencil work on it.  With the brads and twine it just seemed perfect for a Father's Day card.  I'm not sure how I'll top this next year.  Glad I got some prep time :-)

Remember When. . .

Remember when we were baby card makers and taking lots of classes from Jen at Angie's place?  I ?think? this is where we got this pattern from.  I used it here for a Father's Day card.

All I remember is that I made a bunch of cards for different themes from this pattern.  And I think it was a "go to" pattern for Faythe and Val too.

Here's another of the same sketch with a birthday theme:

And yet another that was my Christmas card one year.

Have a great day today.  Only one more day until Friday and the weekkend - YEAH!!