Mar 30, 2009

Spring In Racine, WI

On Thursday night, March 26th, I was driving home from meeting a friend, and I opened my window while going 55 on a 4 lane highway and snapped this shot of a beautiful sunset!
You can see in h picture that there is a frozen strip of water, which was a drainage ditch, so it was still cold, but the grass was starting to look a little more yellow than brown and the trees all had buds starting on them.

Then Saturday night, March 28th, a storm system rolled through and lasted until Sunday Afternoon.
We were in Madison visiting family, and thankfully we stayed the night because the roads were terrible!!
From a beautiful sunset to this white stuff that is only welcome from Thanksgiving until New years Day in my book!!

It stuck to the trees - it was really wet and heavy.

What a pretty scene in my back yard - if it were DECEMBER!!!
Yep - that pine tree just needs some lights and an angel on top!!

It snowed so much that we were not able to get up our driveway. Thankfully our neighbor, Bill (at the far right of the picture). let us park in his cleared driveway and then came over with his snow blower and helped Kirby dig out!!  After the men did the heavy clearing they went to three other neighbor's driveways and cleared them out.  I followed up with a shovel clearing the small stuff so if the temps dropped it wouldn't freeze into patches of ice.  It was just too heavy to lift and I didn't want to injure my back.


I thought March was supposed to come in like a lion and go out like a lamb ... Somebody needs to tell Mother Nature that she is all mixed up and to get it right!!

Anna Banana


Mar 27, 2009

I got my Creativity on last night!!


I made a really great card (IMO) and I won't change this one!!

I had a blast with this!  There was no plan, no sketch and I wasn't even sure what I was going to do when I sat down!
I had colored the little bear earlier in the day using my prismacolor pencils and OMS with stumps.  The little guy is from Newton's Law - www.rorytyger.com which I got in a European craft magazine from Barnes and Noble.  I got some Twinkling H2O's last weekend so I decided to give them a try - I colored the heart with them - no other colors just the Twinklings and it's really shimmery.  The sun wasn't out when I took the photo so I couldn't capture it right.

Anyhow, I was at Michael's again last night to get the white flower confetti from Brides and in that isle I found these awesome pearl and gold brads!  They look really antique to me :)
I also found a set of stick pins from Making Memories called "Chloe's Closet" and the green flower just fit perfectly with this image.

I used a bit of mulberry paper and a scrap of white lace on the side of the image.  At the bottom, I placed some heart lace from Hobby Lobby that I ran a Raspberry Versacolor pigment pad over so you could see the hearts.
I used a pink chalk ink at the top of the card and around the image I used Palette chartreuse and then put my Heidi Swapp distresser to it.

The Bear was punched out with a Marvy 3" circle punch and I layered that on patterned paper cut and embossed with the scalloped circle nesties die.

The silk flowers are from the floral department at Michael's and the teeny rhinestones are from there too.

To keep the lace from moving, I used Elmers spray glue (which, due to user error, created a horrible, sticky mess), but the lace is not going ANYWHERE and the white lace was so saturated, I was able to form it before it dried so the little ripples feel starched and aren't going to get smashed flat!!

I think I finally got the hang of stepping up these cards!!

Here is a detailed view from the side so you can see the dimension :)


Anna Banana


ART SHARE - Special Blog Candy!!

(This will remain at the top of my blog until I get 5 winners)

ART SHARE / BLOG CANDY
I found this idea on Lorraine's blog while blog hopping.  I think it is a fantastic way to share our art!

The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice! For you. Could be a card I really am pleased with, an altered object or something else all together! My choice!  This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be made with you in mind so you won't get something I already made unless I think it suits you to a T.
3. It'll be done sometime this year (I will want to get it done in the next month or so).
4. You have no clue what it's going to be.
5. The catch? Oh, the catch is you must offer this blog candy on your blog! 

Re-post this on your blog, offer something you make - your choice - to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog (then come here and post).
Add my name to the #1 slot on your card- I am your first participant.  When you create your give away, you will become the first participant on the new list for the people who participate with you.  

The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment here telling me they did (I will go to your blog to check that you have this posted) win a handmade gift by me. Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!
SO ...................who will be the first 5 people????

5. Tamerie 

I have got my 5 players and my Art Share is now closed.  I have started on some of the items I am making for each of you and I am THRILLED about it!
Anna Banana

Cool Blog Candy

There is a great giveaway up at The Post-It Place!

 

Visit and enter to win 11X14 Custom Folk Art Painting of your dog

 

To enter click here: Blog Candy Details

Mar 23, 2009

Another card re-do

I had been staring at this card since I created it for a DT call that I missed.  It was sitting on my table and every time I went to make something I had to move it.  So I got to thinking - why have i not put this away yet? Is there something wrong with the original card? No - nothing's wrong with it, but I thought "what if I changed it up - could I make it better/prettier/more interesting?"  The answer is YES!

Here is the first card:
It's pretty. clean and simple...layered papers, punches, flower, glitter...the whole shebang ... but there is no Ahhhhh factor ... I want the Ahhhh!

Here is what I did after looking at it for 2 weeks:

First thing I did was pop off that red flower.  It fit with the paper and the hearts, but it just wasn't quite right.
Then I added more depth of color to her hair giving her shading and highlights to create some interest.
I inked the edge of the pink card base and also the edge of the punched border..it makes it stand out more against the striped paper.
I took some blue ink and distressed the pink chipboard piece so you can see the de-bossed text on it.

I added a blue flower that had a white center and I took some chalk and made it match the color of the base cardstock to tie it in better.

I then blended the colors better with my OMS and stumps on the angel's clothes so they looked really smooth and finished.

Then as a final step, I chalked the cardstock that the angel is stamped on with a brighter pink to make it pop off the cardstock background and I hand doodled in black around the edges to frame her better.

I think overall I am happier now that I spent a little more time on the card.  Now I have the Ahhhh!!

This is a close up of the coloring and doodle detail:


Anna Banana

Unbelievable Blog Candy!

72 Copic Markers!!!
That's right...I said 72 copic Markers!!
I really really really want this since I have not yet gotten a single marker and I LOVE to color!!!

Charmed Cards & Crafts have teamed up with Graphics Direct Ltd to bring you this fantastic prize.
For more details on how you can enter to win, click HERE!

Good Luck!
Anna Banana

Mar 20, 2009

Inky Impressions 1st Design Team Call

Happy Friday Everyone!!

Inky Impressions is coming out with what promises to be a FANTASTIC line of stamps from the previews that we have been shown so far!!

They are having an extension on their 1st EVER Design Team Call!
Go to the Inky Impressions Blog and check out the details!!!

I created the following two cards for my Design Team Application:

Angel On The Moon - Image By Victoria Case

I had a lot of fun creating this card!  I took the colors from the image and then matched my elements to it - kind of backwards, but it worked for me this time!
The patterned paper was from a Paper Stack and it has no info on the back.
I used Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits to color it in, blending the colors to get shadows and depth.  I only had pastel blue flowers, so I chalked them with a teal color to match the angel's dress. It's a much closer match in real life.  I also chalked some white lace with pink and yellow to tie it in with the warm colors.  There is a piece of mulberry paper that you can see peeking out at the edges to give it that soft, ephemeral quality.
To finish it off, I added pastel purple glitter to the wings and on the moon I added some Yasutomo shimmery paint in gold.

Here is a close up of the image.  I don't know it it will come over on the blog, but on my screen where it is giant, you can see the delicate shimmer.


Party Dragon image by Lelo
On this card I did a simple, more clean look to really focus the eye on the colored image.
All the paper is card stock from Archivers.  I ran the green through my cuttlebug with the Tiny Mosaic embossing Folder.
Again, I used my Prismacolor pencils and OMS.
The flower accents are "Brides" confetti from Michael's and the ribbon was a Christmas ribbon from Hobby Lobby.
I finished off the wings, tail and ears of the dragon with a pastel green glitter

Here is a close up of the coloring detail.

I just love how these cards came out - they are very different in their style, but each makes me happy!

Thanks for considering me for your design team.
I have been stamping for over 10 years, but only really seriously for the last 4 years or so.
I have only just decided to apply to be on design teams, and I am eager to be part of yours!
I have an account at both Papercraft Planet and Splitcoast Stampers, but I have not posted on either yet.

If a larger image is needed, please let me know and I can send it in e-mail.
Anna Banana

Mar 14, 2009

Word Verification

Well - I believe I just started getting spammed.  

It's weird- same message from "different" people, but it always links back to the same blog.

I'm going to put the word verification back on for a while until I think the problem fixes itself.
Please bear with me.  Sorry to have to use this.
Anna Banana

Mar 11, 2009

I'm officially a blue haired old lady!

Well - this has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with stamping or crafts :)



I'm officially a blue haired old lady!
Well - not THAT old, and not THAT blue!!
I was playing around with some blue hairspray that I have had for 2-3 years now!!
I'm going Roller Skating tonight and I thought it would be fun to color my hair :)
It'll wash out in the shower (or so the can says)

Anna Banana

Brown Bunny Card Revisited

Original Card



Revisited Card

Well - while I really liked the way my challenge card turned out from last week. it kept calling to me because it didn't quite feel finished. I let it sit and thought about it and finally figured it out .. I added teensy-weensy rhinestones (from Michael's in the Jewelry department) to the flower centers that border the bunny image. 
The rhinestones give the card the look that it is finished. I now think it's perfect.  
Now I think I can move on to create more "designer" quality cards!!

The photo isn't the greatest, but it has been overcast in Wisconsin for so long I am not getting ANY good light for my photos.
Anna Banana

P.S.  I promise my next post will be a brand new card :)

Mar 8, 2009

Blog Candy!


There is some fantastic Blog Candy going on right now!
Keep checking my Blog Candy Dish for new entries!!
Help these bloggers celebrate their occasions!!!
Visit the following blogs:

Mar 6, 2009

Belli Challenge #57




What is the Belli Challenge you ask?
Belli's = Embellishments. Each week, The ladies at Creative Belli Blog try to give us a challenge that will use things we have lying around our stamp rooms or homes! With a constant flow of new things coming out, we can tend to forget about the other things we have and they quickly become clutter!

This week's challenge was a tough one for me - Use a color you don't like!
Well, I really don't like to use brown.  

Here are close-up details of the card.

In this shot, I was hoping you could see the Twinkelette pens sparkle on the eggs. Well, that didn't come out as well as I had hoped, but you can really see the fun flock on the bunny's tail!
 

In this shot you can see the shimmer really good on the flowers.  These are the flowers I mentioned in my last post.  You can also see the ribbon that I colored with my Palette ink, the pin I used with the seed beads and the little flower brads that I just HAD to add!!
 

Mar 4, 2009

New Embellishments!!

I was at Michael's the other day looking for some flower blossoms to use as an embellishment on a card I was making.  I wandered over to the Bridal section because they didn't have the flower I was looking for.
I came across this new "confetti" that they are selling for brides to use on the tables or in invitations, etc.

They come in these really cool clear cans with a metal paint-can style lid.
I got the 5 colors below and they also come in white and a champagne beige.  Each container costs about $5 and with a coupon they would be a steal!!

I have not counted these out yet, but there are well more than 200 pieces in each can!
Here is a close-up of the flowers.  They all have an iridescent sheen to them which looks like a pearl or sparkle in real life.  Each one is also embossed!  All you need is a brad, gem or pearl to finish off the center if you really wanna get fancy!


I'm sure you will see these on my cards in the very near future!
Anna Banana

Mar 3, 2009

DT Submissions - The Greeting Farm

Well - I tried out for The Greeting Farm's Design team call and I didn't make it in this round.  They will have another call in 3 months and I will surely give it another go at that time!
Here are the cards I did for this call...

You have seen this card before - I put a little more bling on it, made sure it was centered and submitted it.  I really love the card in person - it is very rich looking and the rhinestones give it a nice pop.

You are not going to believe this, but this card took me over 5 hours to make.  I did a 6x6 card, which I usually don't do, to give the image more room on the card - they are 3x3, so they are a little bigger than the images I usually work with.
Well - I got her on there all colored and pretty and then there was so much empty space I had no idea what to do with it!!
Literally the middle of the night, I finally finished.  When I woke up in the morning, I took a look at what I had struggles with for so long.  I liked it, but thought to myself - NO WAY!!  This looks like a 45 minute card, not a 5 hour card!!  Oh well.

This is my favorite of the three.  I LOVE her blue hair - I rarely ever go outside of blond, red or brown hair for my creations.  I will have to play with "anime" hair more often - it's a lot of fun.
I loved the way her hair and outfit ties in with the patterned papers and flower embellishments. I really like the way i was able to shade her skin, too - I'm really happy with this one!


Any thoughts or suggestions on how to improve ANY of these cards would be greatly appreciated - I really wanna up my game so I can get in on the next DT call!
Anna Banana