Popcorn!

Okay, this is actually about getting ideas across when you may, or may not, have the image you want.  I’m using popcorn as an example.

When you see wide red and white stripes, what do you think of?  Especially, if there is a scalloped edge.  Most people immediately think of popcorn boxes, even though most of us have never had one.

So, besides wide red and white stripes, what else makes you think of popcorn?  How about yellow splatters on a white background?  Does that remind you of the mouth watering buttery popcorn you can get?

Just 3 rounded white shapes overlapping generally reminds me of popcorn, too.

So, now that I am craving some wonderful popcorn, I want you to take the time to think of other ways you can get an idea across.

Speaking of popcorn, go check out my challenge in the WeCraftCards.com Little Known Holidays crop.  Take a guess what National Holiday is celebrated on January 19?

Thanks for spending some time with me today!

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Fun With Friends

A friend came over today and we had some fun making cards.  Here’s a look at what I worked on today.

This first one is for a friend at church that hasn’t been there the past two Sundays.  I miss her.

The missing face is acetate.

This next one is the tiniest little card, but was fun to make.  It would have helped, had I had a larger jar stamp.  The main part of the jar folds behind for a card.

This last one is one I did for the My Favorite Things sketch challenge.  I missed the deadline, but had fun making it.

Thanks for spending some time with me today.  I hope at least one of these made you smile.  Be prepared, there is a crop starting tomorrow on We Craft Cards, so I’ll be posting what I make for the challenges, at some point.  Go check it out.

Valentine’s

I try to always give at least 1, if not a couple of Valentine’s to my husband every year.  This year, he only gets 2, but the first was designed just for him.  I also try to give each of my children a Valentine, just to remind them they are loved, they are important and they are very special.

This first one was designed for my daughter, as she loves dachshunds.  She also likes pink, so I used a bit of that, too.

This second one was designed for my son, who can tell you just about anything and most everything about comics, supernatural, science fiction and science.  We’ve had several Bigfoot/Yeti conversations over the years, so I thought he would like this one, and he did.

Now, the one that is an inside joke for my husband, I spent a lot of time on – idea, planning, fine tuning, creating.  He got it this morning and after he could finally read it (didn’t put on his glasses and it is small print), he really liked it.

Inside it says, “But because it’s you, I’ll deal with it.”

This next one I slid inside his lunch bag.  I’m really hoping being in the fridge overnight that the adhesive will still be stuck.

He gave me this Altenew stamp set for Christmas.  It was one he picked out, and I immediately thought it would make a fun Valentine for him.  I tried to get a good look at the moon, yesterday morning, on the way to work, but I still think I didn’t get it quite right.  My poor, light gray ink that I specifically got for this, and stamped off, still is way too dark and not quite gray.  Hmmm, I’m definitely going to have to play with this one.

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!  No, it’s not a “Hallmark” day, as my husband says.  It is a day to show your love for those around you.  We should do that every day, but this is just a day to step out a little more.

Thanks for spending some of your precious time with me, today!

Christmas Recipe

One of the challenges on the WeCraftCards.com site this week is a Christmas Recipe card.  So, I figured I’d share a favorite recipe with you.

Every Christmas Eve, my mom invites family, friends, extended family, over for Clam Chowder and sandwiches.  It’s a fun evening of fellowship.  Now, this isn’t the recipe my mom uses, as she does BULK, but this is my favorite clam chowder recipe.  It is, my mother-in-law’s recipe.

CLAM CHOWDER – by Judy Peterson

• 2 cans minced clams
• 1 cup onion, chopped fine
• 1 cup celery, diced
• 2 cups potatoes, diced (don’t rinse)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 pint half&half
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp ground pepper, to taste
• 1/2 tsp sugar

Drain juice of clams into a saucepan.  Add vegetables and bring to boil.  (Be careful not to scorch.)  Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.

Melt butter in large saucepan.  Add flour and stir until smooth.  Add milk, half & half, salt pepper and sugar.  Cook, stirring constantly until smooth and thick.

Add vegetables, including juice, and clams.  Stir to mix and heat through.

Enjoy!

Thanks for spending some time with me today.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  If you aren’t in the United States, have a wonderful week.

Christmas Fishes

Here’s another idea for fun Christmas cards . . .

This is my husband’s favorite, so far.  Fish wearing sweaters.  Yep, definitely had fun with this one.  I used another Hero Arts layering stamp set, the gold fish.

What do you think?

Thanks for spending a bit of your time with me today.  I hope you had some fun.

Flamingo Fun

Having lots of fun trying to decide what to do for Christmas cards this year.  Thought I’d step out of the box and go with different ideas.

Idea #1 has some fun layering stamps I got from Hero Arts.

I’m loving this one.  However, cutting out each of the red and green shrimp, and adding a bit of sparkle to them, was quite the chore.

Thanks for spending some of your time with me today.  What do you think of this as a Christmas card?

Faux Torn Edges

Sometimes layers are wonderful.  Other times, you need a pretty flat card.  Here is a simple walk through of how to do a flat card that looks like it has layers.

To start, you need to tear the edges of a piece of scrap paper.

I used some removable tape on the back of my strip of scrap paper.  You can use some regular adhesive, if you press it onto your skin and pull it off several times.  You want it to come off cleanly, at the end.

After my strip was placed, I used the different inks to ink around the edges.  I started with the lightest colors and the edges of the card and the darkest closest to my strip.  Granted, there wasn’t a whole lot of difference in the inks and I did blend them together, somewhat.

Next, I left the scrap paper strip on the card and stamped my flowers using a different color.  I did overlap the edges, so they were partially stamped onto the strip.  This adds to the faux layered look.  I also added some leaves.  Then, I removed the strip.

It almost looks like a torn white strip is placed on top of a detailed background.  The last step was to stamp my sentiment.  After I stamped it, I decided to add a couple of stick on embellishments.  These are quite tall, so not good for mailing.  However, if you wanted to stamp something in the blank space, or adhere something smaller, or even just leave it blank, it all depends on what look you want.

The finished card.

Here’s another one that I did with 2 torn pieces at the edges, rather than 1 in the center.

The colored, stamped flowers, were popped up with pop dots.

This really is a fun technique.  Try it and see what you come up with.  Have fun with the inking!

Thanks for spending some time with me today.