I've Moved

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for reading "4th and Goal". What kind of a name is "4th and Goal" anyway? It is a football kind of thing, and this blog has evolved over the years into a stamping blog...so, I thought I needed a blog that reflected that.

So, I proudly present you with Stamping Deets, my new and shiny stamping blog. I do hope you'll visit. Please change all bookmarks accordingly.

Thanks!

Coming Soon

We all knew it was time...and, now I finally have the time. New and improved blog coming soon. Probably by the end of the week. I'll post the link here when it is ready. Thanks for sticking with me.

Perfect For All Occasions

Here is a very photo-intensive look at the project I created for the My Favorite Things Stamping Idol competition. This week's theme was "Perfect Package". I decided to create an explosion box using my Bind-It-All. I wanted to communicate with this "perfect package" that the contents of the box (the MFT stamp sets) are "Perfect for All Occasions". All images are from My Favorite Things, and all are stamped with Marvy Dye black ink onto Neenah Solar Crest cardstock. Patterned paper, chipboard, Owire, Cuttlebug Die Cuts and ribbon were also used. A pad of paper was affixed to the bottom of the box, so that a running "To Buy List" could be kept. Thanks for looking! To see a photo close-up, simply click on the photo.

O'Hare International Airport

O'Hare International Airport
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

I am in the Top 4 of the My Favorite Things Idol competition. I'm honored to be competing against such talent.

This week, we were graciously given the newly released "Birthday Flopsey" from My Favorite Things. I decided to turn the cake carrying rabbit into a security officer at O'Hare International Airport that confiscates unattended carrots. Yep, that's how my mind works.
The whole project is actually a framed picture.

I stamped the the birthday Flopsey onto Neenah Solar Crest white cardstock with Marvy Dye ink and colored the bunny with Copic markers. I drew the carrots and the hat for Flopsey to make him O'Hare's security officer.

The two Flopsey passengers were also stamped using Marvy Dye ink onto Neenah Solar Crest cardstock and colored with Copic markers. I drew the seats for that these passengers are using as they wait for their flight. This adorable Flopsey is called Reading Flopsey from My Favorite Things.

The plane in the corner of the frame is also from the set "Going Places" from My Favorite Things. It is stamped with Marvy Dye ink onto Neenah Solar Crest white paper and colored with Copic markers.

The windows in the terminal are merely white cardstock scraps outlined with a black Copic marker and arranged accordingly. Behind the window is a patterned paper made to look like the sky.

The carpet is patterned paper.

The gate check-in counter is made using patterned paper.

All text panels are generated by the computer. They read:
"O'Hare International Airport"

"Flopsey Hare Flight #123
Operated by My Favorite Things
Departs 10:00 pm
F4"

F4 designated "Final Four"

The overall message reads, "Do not leave carrots unattended. Unattended carrots will be confiscated."

I guess all those years I spent traveling for my job has either paid off, or has warped my mind. You be the judge.

Speaking of judges...won't you be a judge for this weeks competition? Here's a link to the voting. Voting is from 10:00pm Tuesday, May 12 through 10:00pm Wednesday, May 13.

Inspirational Mother Nature

Cover
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

If you can believe this (I certainly can't), I am in the final four of the My Favorite Things Stamping Idol.

This week, the challenge was to create with the colors pink and brown, and pay some type tribute to an inspirational woman.

I decided to pay tribute to Mother Nature. As a stamp artist, I use Mother Nature as inspiration for almost everything I create. I study photos to determine colors, shading, and scenes.

This is a book I created using My Favorite Things stamps exclusively, along with my new Bind-It-All machine. I colored all images with Copic markers and stamped these images with Marvy dye black ink. Brayers, dye ink, emboss resist...every technique I know was thrown into this book somehow I believe. If you have a question on how I created a particular page, just leave me a comment and I'll send you the details.

I do hope you'll hope on over the My Favorite Things forum on Splitcoast. The voting is live from 10:00 pm Tuesday, May 5 through 10:00 pm Wednesday, May 6. I hope even more that you vote for me. Thanks!

My Favorite Things Idol~Picture My Vacation

My Favorite Things Idol~Picture My Vacation
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

I am very fortunate. Not only am I in the top 5 of the My Favorite Things Stamping Idol competition, I was able to spend most of the week in San Diego on vacation. So, coming back home meant I had little time to put together this week's Idol challenge...Frame It.

I decided that with San Diego fresh on my mind, I would attempt to recreate some of the "frames" in my digital camera. I just love taking pictures on the beach, and of things tropical.

All stamps are from various My Favorite Things sets. Images stamped with Marvy Dye black ink onto Neenah Solar crest white cardstock and colored with Copic markers. I also did a lot of brayering and sponging on the images to create the scenes of each "photo".

I put the entire creation in a 12 X12 scrapbook frame and included a photo order form.

Thanks for looking. I hope you enjoyed my vacation as much as I did and that you'll participate in the voting that will go live from 10:00pm Tuesday, April 28 and will conclude 10:00pm on Wednesday, April 29 in the My Favorite Things forum on Splitcoast. Here's a live link for voting.

"One Layer Card for Mankind"

"One Layer Card for Mankind"
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

After having a week off from the My Favorite Things Stamping Idol competition, it was fun to get back to the competition. I am delighted to be part of the Top 6. Thanks to all of you that have supported me thus far.

This week's challenge was to make a one layer card....something I have never ever done. First time for everything, huh?

I've always read that with one layer cards, it is important to use white space. So, I decided to be a rebel and stamp on black cardstock. I stamped the astronaut image from My Favorite Things Ben Paper Dolls set onto black cardstock with Colorbox Black Pigment ink. I heat embossed this image with black embossing powder. Then I drew a moon (horizon?) line with a Versamark marker and heat embossed with black embossing powder. It was at this point of the card, that I rubbed a Brilliance Moonlight white pigment ink pad directly onto the card to create the moon. I added some shadowing and craters with Prismacolor pencils. I then proceeded to paint the astronaut image with Brilliance Moonlight White reinker. I colored the shoes, gloves and part of the mask with Prismacolor pencils. Then, I used a Sakura glitter pen to add a little sparkle to the mask and a couple of the astronaut's patches. I then doodled the stars and the border with a white gel pen.

So, yes...gasp. No Copics and not much pencil work to this card. Very unexplored territory here for me.

This card was inspired by photos of Neil Armstrong on the moon. I guess I'll call it "One Layer Card for Mankind", a play off the infamous quote.

I had a blast making this card. Make sure you visit the My Favorite Things forum on Splitcoast and vote for your favorite one layer card. The voting begins at 10pm Tuesday, April 21 and will run until 10pm Wednesday, April 22. Here's the link if you'd like to vote (for me I hope) Link to Vote

The Week Off

My Favorite Things~Ben Paper Dolls
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

Just because I have been enjoying the week off for spring break, and I have the week off from the My Favorite Things Idol competition...there is no way I'm taking a week off from stamping.

This is a card I made using one of My Favorite Things newest set, entitled Ben Paper Dolls. This is actually a spinner card, where the image of the superhero goes around and around, somewhat like that of a game spinner.

Anyway, I stamped the image of Ben and this image of the superhero's clothing onto Georgia Pacific white cardstock with Marvy dye black ink. I colored the image with Copic markers. The smallest yellow panel was made using a brayer and lots of sponging of Sea Shells Conch Shell dye ink and Hampton Arts Color Blast Yellow dye ink. The yellow star was computer generated and colored with Copic markers. The sentiment was also computer generated. The white stars are from a star punch. Patterned paper and colored cardstock were also used to complete this card.

I'm having a lot of fun with this paper doll set, as there is also an astronaut and a pirate costume. How fun is that?

Speaking of fun, I'm having fun being My Favorite Things Guest Designer for April. Can it just be April forever? And, can this week off from work be forever too?

Wildflower Nights

My Favorite Things~Build A Bouquet
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

I am honored to be one of the Top 7 in the My Favorite Things Idol competition. Thanks to all of you for your kind words, support and votes.

This week our challenge was to make a card using the My Favorite Things "Build a Bouquet" stamp set. This particular stamp sets feature solid stamps.

The card you see happened pretty much by accident. I was playing around with the set, having fun making the flowers by stamping one of the solid flower images multiple times with Marvy dye brilliant yellow ink. I was doing some shading and touch-ups with Copic markers. I cut the flowers out, and tossed them aside on my messy stamp area....they landed on some wildflower scenery cards that I had made during a Michelle Zindorf class last fall (yep, my area is that messy, and yes...I was fortunate enough to take her class)...and I was taken with the look of the brilliant yellow against the blue. It pains me to say this, but blue and yellow really do go well together.

From this, I proceeded to make many more flowers, using the above mentioned method. I decided to create a My Favorite Things wildflower scene by cutting apart many of these flowers and placing them every which way on the paper.

To create the scene, I brayered SeaShells cloudy blue dye ink and Adirondack Sailboat Blue on the panel. I then sponged more Adirondack Sailboat Blue and some Adirondack Denim dye ink around the image panel. I sponged Adirondack Lettuce and Adirondack Willow around the bottom left of the panel to create the ground.

It was then that I began randomly stamping direct to paper, portions of the flower images with Marvy Brilliant yellow and Marvy Cherry ink, using the emboss resist technique and heat set. I stamped the two "stems" in this set randomly with Lettuce and Willow Adirondack inks and applied a Versamarker over these lines and embossed. I drew in some extra stems by hand using Adirondack Willow and Lettuce pens.

It was with this, that I then positioned the flowers that I had made and cut out earlier around the wildflowers. I decided late in the game that I needed a moon, so I stamped a circle included in this set using Stazon white and cut out and positioned on the card.

Ribbon, corner punches, and colored cardstock were also used to create this card.

If you want to see some incredible cards, check out the My Favorite Things Forum on Splitcoast. Voting is from 10:00 pm Tuesday through 10:00 pm Wednesday. Here's the link My screen name is LittleSeaOtter. If you like my card, I would sure appreciate the vote.

Flopsey's Flowers

Flopsey's Flowers
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

I am absolutely elated to be the Guest Designer for My Favorite Stamps. What an honor!

My role this month is to introduce you to some of the new releases from My Favorite Stamps.

This card was made with the set entitled "Flopsey's Flowers". Isn't Flopsey the bunny adorable? What I like so much about this particular set is all of the sentiments that come with the bunny image..."Missing You Bunches", "Bunches of Thanks", "I'm Sorry", "I Didn't Mean To", and "You're My Favorite", making this set extremely versatile.

I stamped the image with Marvy Dye black ink onto Neenah Solar Crest cardstock and colored the image with Copic markers. I drew in the ground. The flowers were stamped on a scrap piece of paper and added on top of the original image to add some dimension. I added some Stickles to the middle of the flowers for a little sparkle.

Various patterned paper, ribbon, spiral clip, pop-dots, and a paper piercer were also used to create this card.

Stay tuned this month for some more creations using the newest releases. I got so lucky to be selected Guest Designer during such a fantastic release by My Favorite Things.

Cheers!

My Favorite Things~Girls Night Out
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

Cheers! I'm in the top eight of the My Favorite Things Stamping Idol competition.

This week's challenge was to use an unreleased set from My Favorite Things. It is a fun set called "Girls Night Out".

I decided to use the set title as the theme of my card, but ended up using the images in the set in a very different way than is probably the norm. The bar stools and the hanging lights are actually cocktail glasses from the set. I sketched the bar, the floor and the ladies' pants.

All images were stamped using Marvy Dye ink black onto Neenah Solar crest white cardstock, except for the lights which were stamped onto coated paper. All images were colored with Copic markers. The sketching was done with a black Copic multiliner.

Patterned paper and black cardstock were also used to create this card.

I hope you'll get the change to visit this week's competition over on the My Favorite Things forum on Splitcoast. Voting is from 10:00 pm Tuesday, March 31 through 10:00 pm Wednesday, April 1. If you like this card, or if the very least it has you singing the Cheers theme song, please vote for me. My screen name is LittleSeaOtter. Here's the live link

Thanks for all of your encouragement and cheers from the past couple weeks regarding this competition. I so appreciate your kind words.

American Art Stamp~Easter Girl

American Art Stamp~Easter Girl
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

This is a Easter card I made using a beautiful image from American Art Stamp. I think that all of all of the stamps I received being Guest Designer this month, this image is my favorite. I just love the ribbon coming off of the hat, and that little bunny rabbit beside her is just adorable.

I stamped the image using Marvy Dye black ink onto Neenah Solar Crest cardstock. I colored the image using Copic Markers.

Patterned paper,colored cardstock, brads, Cuttlebug embossing folder, ribbon, and a paper piercer were also used to create this card.

I can't believe Easter is so very near. I better get hopping on some more Easter cards!

What's Up?

What's Up?
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

A lot! I am in the Top 9 of the My Favorite Things Stamping Idol contest. I'm so honored to be a part of such a talented group.

This week our challenge is to use masking and here is the card that I'm submitting.

As I took a look at my My Favorite Things stamp sets, I was drawn back to my set "It's A Jungle Out There". I did some masking with my audition card so I really couldn't replicate that. So, I decided to stick with just one animal and create a herd, so to speak. Do giraffes hang out in herds?

And, as I thought of giraffes I kept seeing oranges, browns, yellows and sunsets. And, that is how this card was born.

I stamped the giraffe image with Marvy black dye ink and masked it, to stamp another giraffe behind it onto Neenah Solar crest white cardstock. I then thought a third giraffe was needed so I reversed the image. I took the round image from the Build a Bouquet set and made a sun. This was masked too, slightly behind one of the giraffe's head. The sun was stamped using Hero Arts Vanilla shadow ink.

I colored the giraffes using Copic markers. I then covered the giraffes and the sun with my Versamark pen and clear embossed to create a resist.

At that point, I dusted off my brayer and brayered a gradient of colors including Adirondack sunshine yellow, Adirondack sunset orange, and Seashells sandal dye ink. The horizon was created using a mask I made from torn Post-It notes and with sponging.

Brads, computer-generated sentiment, colored cardstock, patterned paper, mesh, and a paper piercer were also used to create this card.

If you like this card, I hope you will vote for me on the My Favorite Things forum on Splitcoast. You are definitely going to want to check out the contest. The entries are guaranteed to "wow" you.

It's Great to be with Weiners!

It's great to be with Weiners!
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

Last week I was honored to be named one of the ten finalists for the My Favorite Things Stamping Idol. I was elated to be among such talent.

Our competition for this week was to create something the celebrated our placement into the Top 10. I was inspired by my very own weiner dog, Sloopy....and I thought about how the word weiner sounds so similar to winner. And thus, the idea for this card was born.

I created a scene using various My Favorite Things stamp sets...the dachshund image is from Rain or Shine, the girl image is from By The SeaShore, the grass is from It's a Jungle Out There, and the celebrate sentiment is from the set Let's Go for a Walk. The saying "It's great to be with weiners" is computer generated. The dog collar was graciously donated to my cause by Sloopy, and the dog tag was traced around her dog tag. The sidewalk was sketched by me.

All images were colored with Copic Markers. Patterned paper and black colored cardstock were also used to create this card.

If you like this card, and you'd like to see some other fabulous entries go to Splitcoast. Voting is from 10 pm Tuesday, March 17 through 10 pm Wednesday March 18 in the My Favorite Things Forum. Please vote for me, LittleSeaOtter, if you like this card.

I hope I can be a weiner again next week.

American Art Stamp ~Rooster

American Art Stamp ~Rooster
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

I'm delighted to share this card with you. I started thinking the card was going to go one direction, and it totally ended in another way entirely. I kinda like it when that happens. It wasn't until I saw the warm, bright yellow on the blue when I thought of a creating a sun, and the rest of the card took shape.

The rooster image is from American Art Stamp. It was fun to color because the artist left so many open spaces for many colors. I colored this image with Copic markers onto coated paper. Coated paper really makes the Copic colors pop. I stamped the rooster image with Marvy black dye ink and heat set it. The sun is a circle from Nestabilities. It is actually made from a sun-patterned designer paper scrap that I had. I merely stippled on some Adirondack butterscotch dye ink and some Seashells Seashell Pink dye ink to give the sun a color gradient. Various patterned paper and colored cardstock were also used, as well as a paper piercer and ribbon.

Stay tuned for more of my creations using American Art Stamp.

The Week Flu By

My Favorite Things ~ Stamping Idol Audition
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

This past week, I had all intentions of making a few cards and a few blog posts, but I unfortunately came down with the flu. I was so sick, I didn't even feel like stamping. Now that's sick, don't you think!?!

But, last night I did muster up some strength and desire to create an entry for My Favorite Things Stamping Idol Audition, which is a very cool competition that was announced earlier in the week. If my entry is selected among the 10 finalists, then I will get to compete each week in different challenges using MFT stamps. Doesn't that sound like fun? And, trust me...I'm much better at stamping, than singing, so this particular Idol challenge is more my speed.

All images on this card are from My Favorite Things. I used Marvy Dye black ink to stamp them onto Neenah Solar Crest White cardstock. Lots of masking was needed to complete this scene. I then colored all the images with Copic markers. I did do some stamping of the background vines/leaves/grass with Vivid Olive dye ink, Whispers Green Leaf dye ink, and Whispers Savoy Green dye ink. Lots of cutting with Cutter Bee scissors to pop up some of the leaves, and buttons were used to make coconuts on the trees. I tied the buttons with strands of twine. Various patterned paper and colored cardstock from Hollo's were also used to complete this card.

And, as it turns out, My Favorite Things is holding a Guest Designer Challenge, and the challenge was to use buttons. Don't you love it when you can combine challenges? I do believe some things are meant to be. Good luck to all those who audition!

American Art Stamp~Angel Gardening

American Art Stamp~Angel Gardening
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

One of the reasons I'm attracted to American Art Stamp is what I call the "long and lean" images that are available. It allows me to have fun creating a gradient of color with my Prismacolor pencils.

And, that is what I did for my very first card of the month. This card was made with this adorable gardening angel. I stamped the image with Stazon Jet Black ink onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils only (no gamsol). Patterned paper and colored cardstock were also used to create this card, along with ribbon, paper piercer, scallop punch, and a circle punch. The sentiment is also from American Art Stamp.

I utilized the layout from Weekend Sketch Challenge #70.

I think this may just end up as a Mother's Day card for mom.

This Month Is Here!

In Over My Head?
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

I've been keeping a little secret from you for a while now. Back in November, I applied to be a designer for American Art Stamp....and GUESS WHAT!!!??? The incredibly talented Flaxychick selected me to be Guest Designer for March 2009! I've been so excited about this and forever grateful to Michelle for giving me this chance.

So, when I received my stamps from American Art Stamp, I thought it would be a good idea to ink them up and see what they looked like on paper. And when I accidentally stamped the sentiments upside down, I thought, "I may be in over my head" if I can't even stamp an image correctly. LOL!

I hope you'll join me and check back on my blog as I make this unchartered journey this month. Their images are absolutely awesome for spring. Stay tuned!

Bunny Egg Painter

Bunny Egg Painter
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

This weekend finds me with a sore throat in its infancy. So, off and on this weekend, between my naps trying to fight the impending illness, I worked on this card.

The adorable image was found on clearance in a stamp store in Indiana a couple of years ago. It is by Inky Antics. I stamped the image with Marvy black dye ink onto Neenah Solar Crest white cardstock and colored the image with Copic markers. I also used grass images from Art Impressions to create the ground. Various patterned paper and colored cardstock were also used to create this card, along with white brads, white ribbon, a paper piercer and a scallop punch. The sentiment is computer generated. The layout of this card was found as a High Hopes Challenge, #17.

I sure hope that this card is a sign of spring. I am ready to say goodbye to my raw throat and the bitter coldness of winter.

Commissioned

Bananas about you
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

Things have been kinda busy around here, and I've been spending way too much time on Facebook.

But, I need to share three Valentine cards with you that my friend "hired" me to make for her. I ended up giving them to her, as she does so much for me, that there was no way I was going to charge her. I simply told her that the "first three are free". But seriously, how much do all of you charge for your cards? My friend says she would much rather pay me than Hallmark for her card needs...but I have no idea what to charge. Hmm.

Anyway, allow me to share these creations.

The monkey card was created with a Whipper Snapper stamp, along with the sentiment and banana from My Favorite stamps. I stamped the images with Memento tuxedo black ink onto Neenah Solar Crest cardstock. Colored the images with Copic markers and Prismacolor pencils. I utilized Sketch Challenge #215 on Splitcoast for the layout.

The dachshund card was created with an adorable stamp from Cowtown Stamps. I stamped the image with Memento tuxedo black ink onto Neenah Solar Crest cardstock. Colored the image with Copic markers. Sentiment was stamped with Karen Foster Snap Stamps. Cuttlebug embossing folder also used, along with paper piercing and ribbon.

The bear card was created with a stamps from Stamps by Judith, and a background stamp from Hero Arts. The sentiment was stamped with Karen Foster Snap Stamps. I stamped the images with Memento tuxedo black ink onto Neenah Solar Crest cardstock and colored the images with Copic markers.

So, I think I'll but Valentine's Day to a close and move on to the next greeting card holiday.

Wishing you all a happy one!

Under the Influence

Under the Influence
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

Another day off, another card.

This one, I am tickled with the result.

I made this card for the Ways To Use It #203 challenge, which was to use alcohol in some way. Of course, I chose to use my Copic markers, which are alcohol markers. But then, I decided to use alcohol as my inspiration for the card. I spotted this awesome image by Stamps Happen on my shelf, and I needed one more Valentine...and, somehow, everything just came together. I decided to mix up some Valentine's Day cocktails with my coloring choices and, when I ran an errand this afternoon, I thought of the sentiment which reads, "Under the influence......of your love". Kinda clever, huh?

The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo black ink onto Neenah Solar Crest cardstock. Colored cardstock, patterned paper, silver heart brads, ribbon and a scallop punch were also used to create this card. The sentiment is computer-generated, and I did a little paper piercing too.

Now, if only all cards I make could come together this nicely.

And, sadly...it's back to work I go. But, going to work for one day, and then having a weekend, isn't so bad.

Cheers!

Valentine's Day Chickens

Valentine's Day Chickens
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

With a day off because of weather, I got to putter around in my stamp room and ended up creating this card for Sketch Challenge #213 on Splitcoast. The image is from Inky Antics and was part of a grab bag purchase from last spring. The sentiment is a Michael's $1 stamp. I stamped the main image with Memento Tuxedo black ink onto Georgia Pacific cardstock. I colored the image with Copic markers. Patterned paper, black cardstock, heart brads, ribbon and a Cuttlebug embossing folder were also used to create this card. A Sakura glitter pen was used to go over the heart, and a white gel pen was used to create the border around the circle sentiment.

Who knows? Maybe I'll have another day off tomorrow....stay tuned.

Aged to Perfection

Aged to Perfection
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

I'm not a fan of wine (give me a Coke any day!), but I really like this image from Just For Fun stamps. I decided to ink it up when I took a look at this Lang Calendar, which was part of the Inspiration Challenge #164 on SCS.

The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo black ink onto coated paper. I colored the image with Copic markers. I just happened to have the perfect patterned paper to complete this card, along with colored cardstock, gold paper, ribbon and dew drops.

Not really my style, but perhaps the inside of the card can say, "Aged to Perfection", and I can give it to my Mom next month for her birthday.

Pink Giraffe Valentine

Pink Giraffe Valentine
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

I had to take a break from all the things I have to do to play a little bit in my stamp room. There's no way I was going through a four day weekend without stamping! That just wouldn't be right.

This Valentine was inspired by the Inspiration Challenge #163 on SCS, which was from PB Teen. I was inspired by a pink giraffe duvet cover . I used Sketch Challenge #211 on SCS for the layout. The giraffe is from My Favorite Stamps along with the small leaves and grass. The large leaves are from Hero Arts. The heart and the giraffe pattern is from Stampendous. The main image was stamped with Marvy Dye ink. Whispers Savoy green, Whispers Whisper Pink and Vivid Olive dye inks were also used. Coloring was done by Copic markers. Heart-shaped brads, round clip and patterned paper were also use. The sentiment was computer generated. room.

It should be noted that I CASED StampOwl's giraffe panel on this card. I thought it looked so cool, and I basically had everything to do it.


Now, back to report cards. Uugh!

Only a Couple Days Late

Celebrate January 9th
Originally uploaded by Buckeye

I survived going back to work last week, and I survived the Buckeye loss. It was devastating, but in some respect, losses are getting easier and almost expected.

Anyway, I wanted to share a card that is finally finished...just a couple days late, that's all. My co-worker celebrated her 50th birthday on January 9, and this is the card I made for her. The image is from Paula Best. I love it because I can use this image for any birthday, anniversary, special day, etc by simply coloring in the special date. I stamped the image with Stazon black onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper and colored with Prismacolor pencils. I also used colored cardstock, Cuttlebug embossing folder, brads, ribbon and a paper piercer to complete this card.

Under no circumstance, do the colors blue and yellow represent a change of allegiance on my part. I just think those two colors often look good together, though never on a football field. Do you know, scUM didn't even go to a bowl this year. Hehe!