Ok, so I skipped a month...

I have been wanting to write and post pictures of cards, but instead I have just been busy making cards!  LOL  But procrastination and making time has a lot to do with my not blogging.   So, here are a few new ones:

 I think I may need a new scanner.  These pictures are coming out so light.  The colors seem so much richer to see with your eyes and not thru the scanner.

 I love these cards.  I have been going thru all my patterned paper and have found some wonderful papers that have inspired me.

  
The card below was for Selma's 89th birthday.  She is amazing!

 There are others, but these are my current favorites.
I'm looking forward to Spring and warm weather.  My feet need to be aired in sandals and not in hot stuffy shoes!! 
Lois...

A Turning Point

Today is my 68th birthday.  So much has passed before me and there seems to be so much more to come.  I feel my creativity just beginning to come naturally.  With some positive feedback from my dear mentor Diana Kovacs, it seems that I'm a pretty good card maker after all. But,  I'll always feel like a student.  There is always so much to learn and so many new trends, new products, new paper, new stamps, new inks, and exciting techniques.  I may not be in the same league as Diana, or Kim Bell or Beverly Sizemore or AJ Otto, but, I'm having such a good time making cards.  And I'm here to share my card making journey.

I've been busy...
Here are a few new cards:

These next two cards were colored in Prismacolor pencils.
 

I wish my scanner could pick up the craft paper of the next too cards.  The cards seem more dramatic live. 
 

This card is so much prettier live. I'll have to photographic it.

 An Asian motif with peel-offs and beautiful paper.
 

Ah, a photo! I'll see how many others I can find.
 

These cards are all a little different.  I use stamps and I also use embellishments.  There is dry embossing and also heated embossing with powders.  You'll find stamped and colored pictures as well as pictures I have found on the web or from a book.  Patterned paper is one of my weaknesses.  I love beautiful paper!  I also love to make a card sparkle with Stickles and pearl pens.  Bling is also great fun to use to make a card POP.  There is so much I can do to design a card that sometimes I get a bit overwhelmed and have to step away from my desk for a while and come back to get some direction.  But, it works...I make cards and share them with friends and family for all necessary occasions.  Need a card?  Email me!

 Life is short...never stop creating!

Lois...

ps...I still need to learn how to take a decent photo! LOL

 

Long Winter

First it was Bronchitis and then the following week it turned into the flu.  Then Ron finally gave into his symptoms and he came down with the flu.  For a month, I have been coughing but I am almost all better. Ron is still just tired.  He hasn't gotten his full energy back.  This has been a rough Flu season and I even took the flu shot in late November. OY!
  But, everything will be ok.  Or, as the old adage goes:  this too will pass.
  Meanwhile, I've made a few cards.
  

 The card above is a large card made for a young man at work whose wife is due to have a baby any day now.I need large cards to have room for everyone to sign the inside.  I used pictures from patterned paper, along with some gold peel-offs to give the card some sparkle.

 I have so much patterned paper that just flipping thru the pads I get inspiration.  The card above also has some paper lace, a button with ribbon and some gold peel-offs to enhance the design.

 More patterned paper with a paper doily to add dimension to the card.

 I love this cat stamp and have been waiting for the right inspiration to use it.  What you can't see is that each paw in the circle has Stickles gold glitter on it.  I used Washi tape and some cat ribbon for the background.

I love this card.  It has  the embossed patterned paper with ribbons and a gold  shiny butterfly.  The stamped sentiment  with gold bling dots help enhance the card.

Due to my illness I had to miss a card making class with Diana Kovacs.  Her classes are fun and educational with new techniques to try first hand.  Her designs are original and easy to follow.   But most of all her classes are fun! 

Well, Here's to another good month coming up with good health to me and to you!
Lois...

End of the year creations

Health update:  I finally went to my GP and was diagnosed with Bronchitis.  No wonder I have been coughing and feeling so awful!! LOL  Now I'm on meds and on the mend, hopefully!  
  Meanwhile, since I've been so home bound, I produced a few goodies to show off.  
  I had some craft paper pre-folded card that I never used, so they were my main inspiration.  Here goes:
  

This card is for my brother's birthday:  Used Copics and washie tape.

The base of this card I made last year, but I recently added the graphic.

New Year 2013 is upon us.  
Wishing everyone a very happy, healthy and peaceful New Year!
Lois...

It's time to post ! 
I have been busy with life and making various cards, but just haven't been inclined to post here.  But, I'm ready now.

I recently returned from another visit to Hawaii to visit with my kids,  It was Max's 2nd birthday on December 8th and I wouldn't miss it for anything!  It was a glorious week of playing with my beautiful grandson and spending quality time with Eric and Jackie.  There have been some illnesses in their home this past year, but as a family, they found strength to support one another and keep their love strong!  I am very proud of them.  

Now, time to show some cards:

Chanukah was early this year.  I didn't make very many cards and sent even fewer. LOL  But for my own sake, I wanted to test my creativity.

Here is Max's b-Day card:

And some general cards:

 

 

 

    

For now, these will have to do.  They aren't perfect cards, but they are my creations and I always have fun making them.

Happy Holidaze to one and all,

Lois

    

 

 

October Already!

How did I miss the month of September?  Wow, time do fly!
My kids were here for a long Labor Day weekend and I have a new picture of Max on the page to show you.  He is such a cute kid with a great sense of humor! I miss him every day, but I am looking forward to being in Hawaii for his 2nd birthday on December 8th.

But, September has been a busy card month.  I've been practicing my craft and learning new techniques.  Here is a good one:

Since the card is in 3D off the page, the scanner doesn't get too close to the art work. But, I think you can see what was done.  We had a new baby added to our extended family and so I proceeded to made this card to send with a gift.  

And, another baby boy was born a week ago and here's another baby card about to go into the mail.  There are a lot of sparkly edges that you can't see in this scan. 

I made this card for my card making friend Barbara for her birthday in October.  I love this stamp from Heartfelt Creations.  I used my Copics and a glitter pen to perk the colors.

I'm not so sure how I feel about this one.  Again, the scanner didn't do it justice, so it is just an ok card.

As you can see, I am not showing any of the photos of my cards.  There is much to learn about photography and lighting for my cards to appear properly.  When I figure it out, I'll post the photos.

There are lots of other cards, since I've been having fun making cards, but I'll post one more.  This one is not quite finished but wanted to post it anyway.  The stamp is also from Heartfelt Creations and the colors are Copics.

Oh, I want to post this one.  For the first time in years, I didn't send out home made New Years cards for Rosh Hashanna. But, I always send one to my friend Barbara as not just a personal greeting for the holiday, but because I just love sending her cards and receiving hers.  This card was embossed and sparkled and all sorts of things.  You can't see the detail too well, but you can get the idea. 

I'll post more when I get the time and feel the urge. LOL
Happy Autumn! 
Lois...

I finally bought a new camera

Ron and I were in COSTCO a week ago and found an inexpensive Canon Power Shot A1200.  It seems to fit my needs.  I am not a good photographer, so spending money in the 100's is silly.  So, I took a few pics of some of my recent cards and hopefully you will see a difference in the clarity compared to the scanner.

Here is the scan of one of the above:

I think that the scan might be a better picture. LOL  I guess I just have to practice taking pictures of my cards.

Every day I learn something new.  I think that's what life is all about and how to keep from aging one's mind.  

That's it for now...I'll keep experimenting.
  Lois...

 

Two Beauties

I had some fun this week and made these two cards.  The birthday card is for our friend Phil who recently turned 80 years young.  We should all look so good and be as healthy as he is.  He's active, has a part time job in a warehouse and lives with my beautiful cuzin Ellie.  They are a great couple and I only wish Phil many years of happiness with Ellie.  I know they're having a fun time together living life each day.
  Meanwhile, here's Phil's card made from plain and printed craft paper:

This stamp by Stampendous is one of my most favorite birthday stamps.  It always makes me chuckle.  Again, until i replace my broken digital camera, my scans will have to make do.

This card has been made in shifts.  I had the basic card with layers and ribbon made last weekend, but just didn't know what I wanted to do for a picture. This is a old stamp from Stamps by Judith.  The flowers are suppose to be hanging dried flowers.

So, for now, that's what I have to show.  I'm working a lot lately on artwork for the cards.  Still trying to learn how to use color and in what medium.  It's fun to learn by practing.

Stay cool everyone...it's humid and warm here on Long Island.
Lois...