Hound Dog

The Penny Black challenge -- No. 74 (this week) is to depict a song or lyrics of a song using a Penny Black image so I opened up my Penny Black drawer to see what stamp would sing to me -- and "Birthday Dog" -- sang "pick me!"

This was a perfect choice because a very special person was in need of a birthday greeting. The birthday dog is on the inside of the card and can be viewed from the oval window cut out with an exacto. My song is, of course, "Hound Dog" as sung by Elvis Presley. To see the excellent DT's tune depicts -- go here. And, while you are doing that, I'll just pop this in the mail to "Hound Dog", the birthday dog. Happy Birthday Michael!

Stamps: Penny Black, Cornish Heritage Farms, Clearsnap (rollograph) Tools and other stuff: watercolor pencils, Sizzix, Marvy punch, celestial blue embossing powder, Cuttlebug embossing folder - words computer generated.

Happy Birthday

I couldn't think of a special title for this birthday card but it is going to a very special young girl named Zoe Stella. I was in a pinch for a birthday card for Zoe so I began a hurried search in my studio. When I found this card, it was truly a plain Jane -- one of my earlier "works" -- the front only had the stamped clouds, the balloons and strings. With a little help from a Sizzlet die "Brooke and Timber" (pieced hair and clothing), foam mounts and a small phrase stamp (unknown), I am happy with the final result. The balloons were part of an exercise to use a circle punch in as many ways as possible. I conducted a workshop wherein we made a reference book containing lots of things you can make from a circle punch. I'll share some of these ideas in future posts. Thanks for stopping by, I do so appreciate the encouragement you leave in your comments. I wish Zoe well and I wish you well too.

The Tulip Challenge

My friend Linda, and all her family are gathering to celebrate her mother's 90th birthday. To give me some inspiration for a card, Linda told me her mother's favorite flowers are tulips, peonies, gladiolas, and lilies. This was my challenge because of all the stamps in my collection, the only one of these I could find was one Hero Arts tulip stamp! While rummaging through the "flower" drawer, I found this adorable little old-fashioned girl (Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers) and wondered why it was there until I realized that the flower drawer was also labeled "Easter" and on her skirt were the words "Happy Easter" and her basket is full of little chicks. Ahhh, an idea hatched! I used the tole technique for dimension -- the bonnet and ribbon are separately cut out, burnished and raised. The tulips are cut out and inserted in a slit cut in the basket, and lay over top the chicks (which I colored green so there would be no sign left of them). One tulip drapes down with a wire stem and the tiny "Happy Birthday" is glued atop the "Happy Easter." Once the little girl was all assembled, for even more dimension, she was affixed with foam dots on top of the Darcie cottage scene. A Stampendous verse inside says: "Today I Celebrate You." So now I can truly say, I've met the tulip challenge and can happily send off Birthday Greetings to Dorothy on her 90th Birthday!

Birthday Candles

Thank you House Mouse Design Team for continuing to give us beautiful work for inspiration on the weekly challenges. Go look for yourself and join in. This week's challenge is easy -- make a Birthday themed card. I used just part of a stamp (Jalapeno Peppers) to create my birthday card with an extra stamping of the tail and candle at the mouse's feet cut out and applied to the top layer -- a red panel raised with foam mounts. Crystal lacquer makes the candles shine on the birthday person with birthday wishes from Stampendous. Background "tapestry" is stamped with an All Night Media stamp and Memories Brown ink pad all atop a shiney black 51/2 x 5 1/2 card face. My son will be disappointed that I've not been able to come up with something corny for this posting but when I do, I am sure it won't hold a candle to what he will think. Thanks for stopping by, please tell me what you think.

Make A Big Splash

"Make a Big Splash" -- that is what I inscribed on the inside of this card for my cousin, Anne, who just turned 60 (Aunt Dot's daughter). This delightful frog is from Penny Black with his puddle enhanced with crystal lacquer. The other components are a narrow underlining of corrugated card stock, and another band punched with a frog punch. It would have been fun to put the froggie punch outs on the inside of the card, but I frogot to do that. This brings me to another use for this card -- yup! A belated, "I frogot it was your birthday." All of you being prolific card artists there is probably never a problem with frogetting to send a card. And, those receiving one of your cards surely "jump" for joy. (Thank goodness my son hasn't seen this post as you know how he feels about my corny sayings.) Well, I'll be frogging along until next time.