Teacher - Back to School...

613 Ave C has a new challenge... "Distressed".  You have the month of September to show your creative talents!  For details of the challenge and for some very creative ideas - check out the DT inspiration concepts HERE!

Inside

This image was perfect for a teacher going back to school - along with papers from stash that correctly hint at his subject matter.  I fussy cut the rulers and added them to this background.  Distressing the edges is oddly appropriate for the subject matter - LOL!  I actually wish I had distressed the edges with a lot more vigor... more white showing with tears and bent edges that would have balanced the stark white image panel some.  Embellishments are simple and 'manly' using a Corner Chomper's 'Ticket Stub' punch and then simple metal brads.


Copics were used for coloring the image:
SKIN: YR000 & E00, 01, 53
HAIR: E31, 44, 49
CLOTHES: BG70, 72, 75
BRIEF: E23, 25, 27
CUP: R85, 89
SHADOW: NO

CHALLENGES:
Through the Craft Room Door - ATG Always
Addicted to Stamps & More - #257 – Make Your Mark
Crafty Sentiments – for Someone Special
Shopping our Stash L:13 – SOS #318 – Favorite Season {fall}
Simon Says Wed – ATG
Penny's Challenge #344 – Quick & Easy
Creative Knockouts – L:8- #209 Finish the Inside WINNER
MarkerPOP L:10 –   #128: Use Dark Berry colors

Create wildly and color with abandon!  
~ginny

Biggg Words...

I have a friend who likes to tease me about my "25 cent words"... when I saw this quote, I could not stop myself - OMG!  I HAD to make this card for her!  Truth be told, I had no idea what it meant and I had to google it before she challenged me on this one. 

[This is an adjective - discerning, observant, insightful - having a ready insight into and understanding of things.

1. "it offers quite a few facts to the perspicacious reporter"]

2. 

   INSIDE

   Fun word, eh??

This is a Tim Holtz' "Crazy Birds" image and it came with the embossing folder I used on the background.  Satin ribbon is from stash.  It was colored with Copics.   I THINK the quote was a freebie offered by Ginger's House.

CHALLENGES:
Through the Craft Room Door - ATG Always
Addicted to Stamps & More - #257 – Make Your Mark
Crafty Sentiments – for Someone Special
Simon Says Wed – ATG
Penny's Challenge #344 – Quick & Easy
MarkerPOP L:10 –   #128: Use Dark Berry colors
Sisterhood of Crafters – ATG
Crafty Creations - #349 – ATG
Crafty Girls Creations – #39 - ATG Always
Scrapper's Delight #70 – ATG Always

Create wildly and color with abandon!  

~ginny

Shabby Chic???

613 Ave C has a new challenge... Shabby Chic!  You have the month of August to show your creative talents!  For details of the challenge and for some very creative ideas - check out the DT inspiration concepts HERE!

I know, I know!  Pretty Clean and Simple for a Shabby Chic project... but I'm not very good at creating frou-frou.  I got the shabby in there and used glitter and a BIG [for me] bow ... so there you go!  I do like the result and still managed to maintain my style.
I used a diecut from SU and a technique that my friend Suzanne taught me... using regular tape on the back of the die cut with the sticky side facing up.  I put tape [sticky up] on three of the spaces and Midnight Turquoise from Stamp A Mania embossing powder - then used a heat gun.  This EP has specks of black and gold in the turquoise - very pretty!  Next I applied the tape to the last three sections and used a ultra fine gold glitter.  The background is a turquoise panel that has been distressed with a Tonic tool that creates the worn and aged edges.  Antique Linen Distress Ink by Ranger was used to ink over the physical distressing.  Nail heads [gold bling] from Creative Crystal Co. were glued on in random spaces.  This layer was matted in black to repeat the color of the balloon outline.  Gold specked ribbon pieces [cut off the ends of the double bow] were taped down around the edges of the black layer to give the impression of it being wrapped with ribbon.  These layers were then fastened to Kraft CS as the base A2 card.
The inside is another panel treated in the same manner as the front - and then an oval punched out for the sentiment plus additional bling.

CHALLENGES:
Through the Craft Room Door - ATG
Crafting From the Heart -#170 ATG Always
Crafty Sentiments – ATG
Tuesday Throwdown #354 – Out of the World
Aud Sentiments - #185 – No Sentiment on front
Penny's Challenge #339 & #340 – ATG
As You Like It – Fave – Color Duo & Why [Turquoise & Black - Black just sets up & presents turquoise like a crown jewel IMHO] TOP THREE
Oddball Art – Sky Full of Stars / ATG
Crafty Creations - #347 – ATG
Really Reasonable Ribbon  #169 – ATG w/ ribbon or trim
Fussy & Fancy  #193 – Fave Colors [Turquoise & Black - Black just sets up & presents turquoise like a crown jewel IMHO]
Scrapper's Delight #69 – ATG Always

Create wildly and color with abandon!  

~ginny

Gena's

Hi this is Gena Not Ginny making this post and I am so grateful to have Ginny in my life. She has taught me so much. Thanks Ginny.
This image is one I won in an Oddball Art Stamps Challenge By Lizzy Love . I colored the image with Tombow Markers and I fussy cut the image.  I put on pink paper for the background and I put three hole punched blue flowers. Last but not least I popped her up. I will share more with u I promise. Just Realized it looks like Ginny except the eyes hers are green

By Gena 14 yo

Blast from the Past...

Ok, let me explain!  Sometime in the early 90's [???] I hung out with a bunch of women at a web site called GINGERWOOD, which is a still active  Bulletin Board format site devoted to Rubber Stamping.  We gals became pretty good friends and over the years we traveled to others homes to attend conventions or to hang out together and share "classes" of techniques with each other.  The owner of the site, Susie Wolfe, is to this day a dear friend with whom I stay in touch.  Ok, to the card... One day I came up with the idea of starting a "weird letter" [like a chain letter] with a basic card design and requesting the gals add something and send it on. Let me make it clear - chain letters are a pain in my backside... but this was a take off on the dreadful consequences of not following thru.  Here are the 'consequences' I used to threaten them for non-compliance:
"- One poor woman is still having nigtmares she is drowning in a sea of rubber.
- Another dropped her only quarter running toward the parking meter as the meter maid approached from the opposite direction!!
- And yet a third got a phone call that her husband had discovered her secret stash of rubber from a recent convention.  The one where she had assured him she had stuck to her budget! (SHUDDER!!)"  Pretty mild... but I didn't know them THAT well.

The base card was the 'wallpaper', the bathtub and the window with the hummingbirds.  I have enlarged three sections so you can see the details of what the 18 women added.  I know some of you are still out there - hope you find your contribution and it all brings back wonderful memories!

LOL!  I still get a giggle when I see this card!  Good friends - good times!

Happy Birthday America...

 I downloaded "Americana Kids" - a freebie from Dearie Dolls to use for my 4th of July cards for family.  If you are not familiar with Mary Ellen Smith's web site, check it out - everything she draws for this site is free!
Here you can see three versions of the same image.  All were colored with Copics, each in a slightly different palette.  The first and third versions were fussy cut, sculpted and mounted on foam tape.  A Tag die set was used to create the tab and slot for the ribbon.
This first one will be the one entered in the challenges.

 








Challenges:

Through the Craft Room Door - ATG

Incy Wincy Designs – Friends Forever Crafty Sentiments – ATG Shopping our Stash L:13 – SOS #310 – Flag Day Simon Says Wed – ATG Fussy & Fancy  #190 – Punches & Dies As You Like It – Fave Way to add Ribbon & Why [not one fave - I love the versatility - see each card in trio has a ribbon - all used differently!] Inspiration Destination #131 – ATG Just for Fun Really Reasonable Ribbon  #167 – Summer w/ ribbon or trim Crafty Girls Creations – #38 - ATG Always  [JFF] Crafty Hazelnut's DP Challenge – Always ATG + DP Scrapper's Delight #68 – ATG Always Sweet Stampin' – Stars and Stripes Create wildly and color with abandon! ~ginny

Monochrome Twist...

613 Ave C has a new challenge... ATG/or Twist of MONOCHROME.  You have the month of July to show your creative talents!  For details of the challenge and for some very creative ideas - check out the DT inspiration concepts HERE!

This is a Mo Manning image. Other than skin tones and the pop of color with the stem & ground, I have used a Monochromatic blend of Blue-Violet Copics.


Base card is the solid dark purple with a BV paper used on the diagonal and on the interior.  The sprinkle of dots in both upper corners were made with a 1/16" punch from left over purple CS, glued in place. A little Wink of Stella was applied to the dots and the wings of the fairy for a little sparkle. The ribbon is from stash.
The purple embossed sentiment is from Azadi Earles and was punched out with in a heart.


















CHALLENGES:
Through the Craft Room Door - ATG

Incy Wincy Designs – Sparkle or Shine Crafty Sentiments – ATG Shopping our Stash L:13 – SOS #309 – Lazy Summer Days Tuesday Throwdown #349 – Creative Borders DP2 -Mo's Challenge Blog #276 - ATG + Mo Image Simon Says Wed – ATG Crafty Creations - #344 – ATG Creative Knockouts – L:8- #200 for the Girls Fussy & Fancy  #190 – Punches & Dies Aud Sentiments - #183 –  For a Child + Sentiment As You Like It – Fave Way to add Ribbon & Why [with a small bow - not overwhelming the PAPER design] Inspiration Destination #131 – ATG Just for Fun Really Reasonable Ribbon  #167 – Summer w/ ribbon or trim Oddball Art – Spread your Wings/ ATG Crafty Girls Creations – #38 - ATG Always  [JFF] Crafty Hazelnut's DP Challenge – Always ATG + DP Scrapper's Delight #68 – ATG Always Create wildly and color with abandon! ~ginny

It's been RUFF!

I recently bought a great collection of 'Get Well' images from AI Clear Stamps - "Doggie Kisses Set" by artist Bonnie Krebs.   Definitely one of my current favorite sets with cute images and wonderful related sentiments.

 I colored the image with Copics and drew in the doggy pillow with a neutral grey for him to rest on.  Slippers were dotted with a blending pen to give the impression of fuzzy material.  The three dots are Enamel Dew Drop Stickers from Freckled Fawn.  Add a narrow, white grosgrain ribbon tied in a knot and I have a reasonable "feel better" wish for a man.

The best part was the inside sentiment!

Copics:
Dog E40, 41, 43
Bear E97, 99
Pillow Bed C00, 01, 03
Slippers BG13, 15











Challenges: 
Through the Craftroom Door – ATG Always

Crafty Sentiments – ATG  TOP THREE
Shopping our Stash L:13  SOS #306 – Dude  TOP FOUR
Everybody Art Challenge #404 –  ATG

Penny's Challenge #332 – ATG  TOP THREE

As You Like It – Fave Reason to make Cards & Why [To stay in touch with friends]
Inspiration Destination - Fave Reason to make Cards & Why

Oddball Art – Mother Love/ ATG

Incy Wincy Designs - ATG
Crafty Creations - #343 – ATG

Fussy & Fancy #189 – Pets Crafty Girls Creations – #37 - ATG Always Scrapper's Delight #67 – ATG Always

Create wildly and color with abandon!
~ginny

Just a Note...

The new challenge for June at 613 Ave C.  is always ATG but, the optional twist this month is to use an Embossing - Folder to 'stamp'.  Fun!  Have not used this technique in ages!!  This involves applying ink over one surface of the inside of the folder and then embossing as usual.



In this case I chose to use a brayer and apply Encore Ultimate Metallic Blue Pigment ink by Tsukinako to the flat surface [or the female side] of the E-folder.  I used pigment ink because it takes longer to dry and covers the plastic surface better than a dye ink would have done.  This lovely E-folder by Sizzix really gives a deep and crisp image and the white just pops up off the blue background.  
I added the black die cut rectangle to help set off the image - but did not want a larger rectangle that would block off some of the background.  The die gives the cut the ticket stub corners, so I repeated that same corner idea on the music layer using a Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper with their Ticket Stub punch.  This layer was mounted on black CS of an A-2 size.  
The focal image was colored in a Copic coloring class I took a couple of years back - the only record I have of the source is a cryptic "SAFARTIC"??  If anyone knows the source for this image, please leave a comment?!  In addition to fussy cutting the image I sculpted her from the back and mounted her with foam tape to add dimmension.  I did jot down the colors if you are interested: Hair: Y23,24,28 Skin: E50,51,53,55 Outfit: B91,93,95,97,99 Reds: R14.  
The embellishments include the narrow strip of blue, satin ribbon, the blue tinted bling from Me and My Big Ideas and shiny gold foil added to the stars on her jacket with the aid of Duo Glue.












Challenges: 
Crafting From the Heart -#161 – ATG Always
Penny's Challenge #331 – ATG
Crafty Creations - #342 – ATG
As You Like It – Fave Reason to make Cards & Why ['Just a Note' or 'Thinking of you'... allows me to send any image I feel like using and is kind of like a bonus connection with the recipient!]

Oddball Art – ATG Scrapper's Delight #67 – ATG Always Crafty Girls Creations – #37 - ATG Always Simon Says Wed – ATG Through the Craft Room Door - ATG Everybody Art Challenge #404 –  ATG

Create wildly and color with abandon!
~ginny

So Prrroud of him!

Our oldest Grandson, Reese with his Graduation Honors around his neck:
Honor Cord, National Society of H.S. Scholars and Skills USA, White Bib is National Honor Society. In addition he is wearing 3 Medals: Two Regional Medals and one State Medal in Welding. He has been accepted at the Univ. of Georgia and is in pursuit of an Engineering degree.

I found the card idea at Jill's Ink and she has a video tutorial of directions if you would like to make one!

The card opens up to reveal the stamped "Congratulations" sentiment and on the back of the cap a small envelope to hold money or a check.  I wrote in the card before I remembered to photograph it.

Close-up of the check/money pouch

The year numbers were made with Sizzix dies and I made the tassel by hand.  There are several You Tube videos available on how to do that.  The little diploma is merely a scrap of paper rolled and tied with the same embroidery thread used on the tassel.



**One of the challenges below requires I use "Old Stash".  I haven't embroideried since the 1970's - I think that counts as old stash!  The Sizzix Dies were the very first I ever bought and the papers I have had for 15 or 20 years!  And as one other 'old' thing - I used "Graduation Day" by the Beach Boys [1963] for another challenge.  Don't hate me Reese... be so glad I am using up some of this stuff before you guys inherit it!

Reese & his siblings

Challenges: 
Through the Craft Room Door - ATG
Crafting From the Heart -#157 – ATG Always
Incy Wincy Designs – B & W + 1 Color TOP FIVE
Quirky Crafts - May: Quirky Song [Graduation Day - Beach Boys 1963]
Aud Sentiments - #180 –  ATG + Sentiment
Crafty Sentiments – ATG
Tuesday Throwdown #344 – ATG
Penny's Challenge #327 – ATG
Inspiration Destination #128 – ATG
Crafty Girls Creations – #36 - ATG Always
Sweet Stampin' – Use Old Stash [see above **] Sentiment is stamped!
Crafty Creations - #342 – ATG
Open Minded Crafting - #17 – Mighty Men/ Boys

Create wildly and color with abandon!
~ginny

Re-think, Re-use, Recycle!

613 Ave C has a new challenge... ATG/or Twist of Create a Container.  You have the month of May to show your creative talents!  For details of the challenge and for some very creative ideas - check out the DT inspiration concepts HERE!

I saw this idea on Pinterest of making PILLOW BOXES from the left over tube from TP rolls.  Perfect!  Always looking for a way to:
 Use It Up
Wear It Out
Make It Do or
Do Without

I have watched about five different videos to gather all the techniques I could - and I will share below the steps I found most useful.

* Supplies you might find useful include decorated paper & matching ribbon, scissors, 1/8" & 1/2" hole punches, a round object such as a lid and an embossing tool and a rubber stamp image for decoration.  

* You will also need the TP roll itself and a bone folder.  It doesn't matter if the tube is ugly, once we cover it with paper it won't matter.  

* Flatten the roll with your hands and then, using a bone folder, really press the edges from both sides to make a nice crease.

* Turn the 1/2" punch upside down to gauge how far the edge of the roll is inserted and punch a half circle on one side in both ends.  This will create a finger hole making it easy to open the box.





* Position your round object/ template to emboss the curved fold line of each end.  Position it carefully to go corner to corner but allow for the width of your embossing tool.  Emboss multiple times to get a really good crease on all four ends.




 * With your fingers, gently push the ends in & stroke the embossed lines to reinforce the curvature of the box lids.














* Now you can choose the DP and measure out the size of the paper you want to use - either a Belly Band type or measured to the exact length of the roll.  you can glue or use tape to connect it.  I used tape applied to the tube itself and to all four edges of the paper.  I applied the DP very carefully and cut off any that happened to overlap the tube. 






* All three boxes were filled with individually wrapped hard candies.  Other suggestions were gift certificates, jewelery or, if lined with wax paper, small bars of baked goods.

*I tied ribbon around the box to keep the lids closed.


* Three images were stamped, colored with Copics, and fussy cut to act as tags [here is where the 1/8" hole punch would be useful] or as decoration and hot glued over the ribbon.  This image is "Santa's Star" from D.O.T.S. [I am pretty sure this company is out of business] 

*These will make fun stocking stuffers, teachers gifts, party favors, gifts for co-workers, etc.










Challenges: 
Through the Craft Room Door - ATG
Sisterhood of Crafters – Letter B [Boxes, Bows]
Crafting From the Heart -#157 – ATG Always
Shopping our Stash L:13 – SOS #301 – Back to Basics [Fussy Cut]
Crafty Sentiments – ATG
Penny's Challenge #327 – ATG
Fussy & Fancy  #186 – ATG
Inspiration Destination #127 – ATG/Twist: Masculine
Crafty Girls Creations – #36 - ATG Always
Crafty Hazelnut's DP Challenge – Always ATG + DP

Create wildly and color with abandon!
~ginny