Holiday Card Class

So I'm taking another card class... this time the focus is on holiday cards. Just what I need to get the ball rolling ...

So the first day of classes provided some great inspiration. The card I'm using for inspiration involved a Z-fold card with a banner that spanned the entire card. I liked the colors of kraft and a light blue and light green and decided to pull from those.

So I took a Sizzix Snowflake Die for the focal point, a snowflake embossing folder for the background, some Kraft for the cardbase and light blue cardstock for the snowflake. I wanted a "banner" that fit the idea of a snowflake so I hand drew a snowflake swirl. I drew it so that when the card is closed the two ends of the swirls align but when you fully open the card you can see it exends across the entire card. I didn't have a Christmas greeting stamp that I could make work with the so I used some peel off stickers to add the greeting. I also used a peel off sticker that was sticky on both sides for the centre of the snowflake and added some silver glitter.

Then a little Wink of Stella on the "snow swirl" to finish it off.

Day 3 of Class

So today it's all about the surprise....

My "surprise" is a gift card slotted into a fold in the inside of the card. The instructor showed how to do this as part of a card base which would cut down on some of the bulk. I already had this card done up so I used the concept to add the inside green panel with the fold to hold the gift card. My measurements were a little off - I didn't account for the exterior card taking up space- next one will be better.




Stamps: Stampin' Up! Curly Cute
Paper: Stampin' Up (Whisper White, Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Garden Green, Designer Series Paper)
Ink: Melon Mambo
Other: Stampin' Up! Brads, Sizzix Daisies #2, Stampin' Up Boho Punch and Circle Punch

Day 2 of Class

So today's topic was about tying the front of the card to the inside of the card. One of the examples shown was a trifold card with a scene of critters hanging on to a bunch of balloons. I decided to use that as the inspiration for my card along with an idea I had seen on Andrea Walford's blog a couple of years ago... I guess I had filed that idea just waiting for the perfect opportunity to try it out.

So here it is all opened open...



Here is how it would look all folded up and then the close ups of each panel



Stamps: Stampendous Changito in Space
Cardstock: Stampin Up! Bashful Blue, Elegant Egglant, Dusty Durango, Real Red, Old Olive, Summer Sun, Whisper White
Ink: Stampin' Up! Night of Navy, Basic Grey, Soft Suede
Tools: Stampin' Up! Circle Punches (various sizes)
Other: Dimensionals, Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Pen, Glitter Ritz (Cool Highlight, Rose, Apple Red, Spice Brown, Chartreuse), Sookwang Tape, Stampin' Up! Dazzling Details

Reactivation of Blog

So it's been a long time since I've posted anything.... just settled in I guess and life isn't quite so interesting.

I'm going to try and change this into a craft blog starting with this post.

I'm taking an Online Card Class and if we do our homework and post our projects we may win some goodies... (and you all know I don't enough stuff already).

So the whole concept of the class is to add interest to the inside of the cards and part of the first day of "lectures" talked about pop ups.

So here is my version

Picture of the outside of the card and then the inside with the popup.

Images: Stampin' Up! Friends Never Fade, Fabulous Florets; Hero Arts Everyday Sayings
Paper: Watercolor Paper, Stampin' Up Whisper White, Early Espresso
Ink: Stampin' Up! Early Espresso, Ranger Distress Ink Mowed Lawn, Worn Lipstick
Other: Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Pen

So I'm a little behind...

Sorry for the lack of updates... I'd love to say it was because I was so busy having fun and exciting adventures but it is a sad thing to say that work has reared it's head.

Okay... so where did I leave off? I believe we were on our way to Yosemite National Park....

So here are some highlights

El Capitain... Can you believe people climb this rock?

On the walk to Yosemite Falls

Lower Yosemite Falls - I hear they often dry up by the end of the summer. Would be great to see what they look like in the spring.

Half Dome Rock

A great spot for a picnic lunch?

I didn't see the bear trap in the parking lot until AFTER we finished lunch....

Bridal Veil Falls

and then there are the very big trees...

First Earthquake...

"A magnitude 4.4 earthquake rattled Southern California on Tuesday night. The quake was reported at 11:23 p.m. and was centered around Yorba Linda in northern Orange County.

There was no immediate word of injuries or damage, but the quake was felt over a wide area.

According to the the U.S. Geological Survey, the temblor struck two miles northeast of Yorba Linda, about 29 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

It was felt from Long Beach northwest to Santa Monica, as well as in downtown L.A."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/08/44-earthquake-rattles-southern-california.html

So for those of you that didn't catch my Facebook notice... I actually felt this one...I'm sure though if I had been asleep I probably wouldn't have noticed it. Very strange sensation to feel the bed shake... it probably only lasted about 10 seconds but in that very short period of time I realized I hadn't really thought this all out. Things like... "where's the safest place in the apartment" came to mind.

The next day at work a couple of coworkers felt the aftershock but I must have too focussed in the meeting I was in to notice.

Good Bye San Fran and hello Yosemite July 2, 2012

Monday was a pretty full day --- ride a cable car to China Town and walk to Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf and then walk up the crookedest street. No fog so I can finally get a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge and then a drive to Yosemite (well technically the hotel we are to stay in is just outside the park.) It was a very busy day.

and the "elusive" bridge...