Stepped up Stencils

 For today's homework we were shown how to rethink using your stencils and I loved the project we were shown which did an ombre look down the stencil and using a piece of paper they were able to also provide a 2 tone look. Super excited I was ready to give this a try. 

However, you know when you are so inspired by a card that someone made you want to make it and as you raid your supplies you quickly realize that the products they used you do not own anything that would work. This usually requires a shopping spree for me but since I have now ordered from 3 different stores I think I really need to use what I have which sadly when it comes to Holiday stencils I am sorely lacking.

There was a part of me that knew I could use my Shilouette to make one or if you use the negative space from your dies that can be another makeshift stencil, but I really wanted to make something now. 

The nice thing about this whole Covid shutdown is learning on how to still meet up with your friends and since I was zooming with my bff she helped me pick out a stencil she thought looked like a candy cane so I went with it. 

I did my best to do an ombre effect and sadly ripped my stencil in the process so you'll see some coloring outside the lines that is. 

And my take on the ombre look minus the two tone colors

Embossed Cards x2

 Todays homework assignment was a lot of fun. I don't think I have been this excited to used my embossing folders before. This was day 5 and they did demonstrate using a gel block which I do not own and probably won't buy so for the first card I simply inked my deep embossing folder from Gemini. I think it actually worked fairly well and I was so excited by the folder that I actually tried foil, it worked but it wasn't enough foil on this particular image so into the trash it went. 

I used by Papertry Ink dies and stamps for the foilage, SSS for the sentiment and added so stickles for a bit of sparkle. Definitely a different kind of Christmas card. 

For the next card I pretty much followed the demonstration and grabbed some foil card to emboss and gotta say I love it. So hard to catch the glimmer in a picture. But I really loved how this turned out. 

This reminds me of some old KI Memories Holiday paper that I just loved. So I've completed my homework for day 5 and now onto day 6. 

Wow, another card done

I am amazed I was actually able to accomplish yet another card. This is the most I've done in a year.

Today's homework was for class 3. Infinity shaker cards which I've never heard of before, let alone made one. 

Basically you take the packaging film that most stamps come in, trim it down so it's about a half inch larger than your card panel, then slice it open along 1 of the seams then you wrap your panel with it and afix it to the back side of the panel using double stick tape,  leaving one end open to fill the card before you fill it.

I won't lie it is a pretty easy and fast way to make a shaker card, but for me I felt it looked very similar if you'd wrapped your couch in plastic. It just seems like I'd wrapped my card in plastic. I think I would prefer a frame around the project but I'm sure there's a fan base for these and honestly I can see why. I really enjoyed learning and trying something different.

Holy Crap it's a Card!

 Yes that's right ladies and gentlemen, I made a card. How long has it been, 3 moves, 2 fires and a new house. I've finally settled in and am on the crusty edge of creating again. 

Motivated by a Holiday card class, I signed up and have since watched my first video which was Monday..and I'm just getting a card done. I can't tell you how alien this is seeming to be, finding supplies figuring out stuff..it's almost all new but luckily not that new. 

Any hoo this is Day 2's homework assignment. It was a lesson on mass producing card. Intriguing idea of using a stamp background image then ink in the color. For this card I used a HoHo sentiment from MFTS and used their red ink to tone down my white card panel. I am learning you can use colored card stock to safe yourself some time but you know what I don't have a lot of colored cardstock so am limited. I also did as the class demonstrated and dipped the edge in embossing powder after using versamark to give a white outline to the card panel. 

Once I had my stamped and colored card stock panel I used pattern paper also from MFTS because I didn't have much in the way of a stencil as the class illustrated, especially holiday themed. I then mounted everything on to a card base and did a triple mat of the Joy from Hero Arts and added in some sequins. 

Whew can't believe this took two days to complete. I am so behind. 

Long over due

Since my last post we were asked to move because the house we were renting decided to sell, endured not 1 but 2 fires in our area. 1 of which required us to evacuate the home we were building with extreme prayers and the other sadly burned down 2 neighboring towns. 

We are finally getting closer to the end and moving in dates are looking hopeful.

But this is how the home is looking now

Inside still has a long way to go.

Where were at

Wow talk about an adventure, I feel like I've had 10. We were ready to sell our home, open house approaching in a few days when the order to shelter in place came. That's it were on lock down. In California they finally allowed us to show our home about a month later but here's the twist we can't live in our home. Ok packed up most of the house rented a home in another state and after several truck loads later we moved in as renters to a decent home.

Life is stable. Sold our home and closed on escrow 30 days later. 

Building started and seemed like we were managing ok and then well the place we were renting decided they wanted to sell their home. So one more move and have to say it isn't any fun.

Finally found new place and we've settled in and the home is coming around to where it's starting to look like a home.

So here it is

Soon I'll post so picture of finishes.

A New Adventure

I know it's been awhile since I last posted and life frankly has gotten quite busy. I have spent the holidays visiting my mother multiple times, participated in an art walk selling my Alien Kaboodle merchandise, spent a lot of times with grand kids visiting Christmas lights, decorating gingerbread houses and of course shopping and entertaining.

Now that I would hope for life to settle back down into a normal routine I have found myself on a new journey. We have decided to sell our home and relocate to another state. During this year we will be building a home on my husbands childhood homestead. We decided to demolish a home that was built in the early 1900s and was in a sadden state of affairs. This we did last year in the summer. We had intentions of retiring and building the home but I think we both thought it would be another year later.

So as crazy as life has been it's about to get a whole lot crazier. I am going to document our journey on this blog so family and friends can see how things are progressing.

I do intend to keep up my sewing shop and after talking to a friend I am going to make some kits so I can still do some scrapping. In fact that is one the saddest and scariest parts of the move is packing up my art room. And when I can post cards and layouts I will.

I have begun packing my belongings that I do not need to see for awhile, rented a storage unit and filled that about 1/3 full. Going up this weekend to see about renting a house so I can begin to move furniture and what not so the realtors can stage the home (more on that later).

I don't want this to be an overly long post so going to leave you with a photo of the house plan we purchased. Our home won't look exactly like this but it'll be close to it.