Thank You Card for a Friend

Hello! Today I'd like to share a cheerful thank you card that I made for a friend. I was inspired to make it during Hero Arts' Make Your Own Message challenge.

Thank You Card for a Friend:
(Click on the image to view it larger.)

To make this card, I started with the Screen Shadow stamp. I inked it up using two different colors of Brilliance pearlescent pigment ink: green and blue. This is a nice thick ink and I love how it shines. I started with the green and inked a hilly landscape, then I added the blue to cover the stamp, and stamped it on white card stock. Because I am famous for smearing pigment ink, I decided to set it aside and let it dry overnight.

When the ink was dry, I used blue painter's tape, like you'd get from a home improvement store, to mask the right side of the white cardstock. Then I stamped the Stamping Green Tree image using vintage sepia pigment ink. I removed the mask and then I set this aside to dry for hours.

Once the second layer of pigment ink was dry, I colored in the leaves and berries using Sharpie markers in red and green. I also added some detail to the trunk using a brown Sharpie. I used an eyelet punch to punch a hole on either side of the tree, and tied a pale green ribbon around the trunk.

I trimmed the white cardstock down, leaving about a border all the way around. Then I used shaped scissors to edge the white cardstock. I cut a piece of black cardstock that was just a tiny bit larger than the white cardstock, and adhered the white cardstock to it. This bit of contrast emphasizes the edge detail.

I made a card base (4.25" x 5.5" or A2 sized) from textured yellow cardstock, folded along the top edge. Then I stamped the sentiments on the white cardstock piece and along the bottom edge of the card base using warm red chalk ink. Again, I set these pieces aside to dry thoroughly.

Hours later, I came back and adhered three red gemstones in the tree for pop. To finish the card, I used pop dots to adhere the focal image to the card base, so that it would have dimension.

Materials used:

• cardstock: white, black, textured yellow


• Clearsnap/ColorBox Cat's Eye fluid chalk ink: warm red


• Creative Memories Corner Rounder (the only one that works for me)


• gemstones, small red (unknown brand)


• Hero Arts CL272 All Occasion Messages (just "friend" from "hello friend")


• Hero Arts K5107 Screen Shadow


• Hero Arts K5062 Stamping Green Tree (like the tree in CL230 Live Simply)


• Hero Arts CL142 Thank You Messages


• Making Memories Tool Kit: eyelet punch (version II is now available)


• painter's tape


• Plaid All Night Media Pop Dots


• Provo Craft Paper Shapers scissors: 34-0026 discontinued style


• ribbon


• Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Permanent Marker: lime green, red, and brown


• Tsukineko Brilliance Dew Drop pearlescent pigment ink: Sky Blue and Lime


• Tsukineko VersaFine pigment ink: Vintage Sepia

Thanks for stopping by!

Waterfall Trip Scrapbook Layout

Hi there! Today I'd like to share a scrapbooking layout that I did recently.

But first, I'd like to thank all of your for your fabulous hugs, well-wishes, support, love, and encouragement yesterday. I truly appreciate it!

For this scrapbook layout, I was inspired by Tiffany's Dad Card to use a circular photo along with the Three Ferns stamp. And I was inspired by Jennifer McGuire's "Thinking Inking" class on the Two Peas Education message board to stamp with Distress Inks.

My Waterfall Trip Scrapbook Layout:
(Click the image to view it larger.)

To make this layout, I knew I wanted to cover a piece of white cardstock with the Dots and Flowers stamp. I learned from Hero Arts that you can microwave your wood mounted stamp for 10 seconds, peel the stamp off, and then reposition it to make it easier to line it up time after time.

I thought this would help me with this project, so, for the first time ever, I microwaved a stamp. Since it is such a large stamp, it had to microwave it twice, 10 seconds each, before I could peel it up. But then I peeled it up and repositioned it so it lines up with two sides of the block. It was so easy to do, and I'm so glad I did it!

After I repositioned the stamp, I stamped a 12" x 12" piece of white cardstock using the Dots and Flowers with Antique Linen Distress Ink. I was so much more successful in lining it up so the pattern repeats nicely because I had repositioned the stamp.

When the ink was dry, I turned the white paper over. I used a ruler and pencil to mark a line 1/4" in from each side. Then I used a very old scrapbooking template to trace a bracket shape along each line. Where the corners met, I sketched in a curve. Then I cut out along the lines I drew, to make a "label shape" for my layout.

Next I printed out my photo as a 6" circle and cut it out. I took it into my kitchen and found a bowl that had a rim that was just a bit smaller. I took the picture and moved it around on the page until I had it where I wanted it. Then I replace the photo with the bowl (upside down) and traced around the rim with a pencil. This pencil guideline helped me to position the rest of the stamps out and around the circle.

First I took the Three Ferns stamp and inked it with Tea Dye Distress Ink. As Jennifer showed in one of her Thinking Inking videos, I added a bit of Worn Lipstick Distress Ink (pink), just on the tips of some of the leaves. Then I stamped the Three Ferns around my circle repeating this process.

Second I stamped the Leaf Flourish image using Peeled Paint Distress Ink (green) all around the circle. Third I stamped two leaf images from the Branches set in Worn Lipstick Distress Ink to finish the design around the circle. I really like how this layering turned out.

I set the white cardstock with the Distress Ink stamping aside to dry. Meanwhile, I took a shipping tag and rubbed Antique Linen, Tea Dye, and Worn Lipstick inks onto it. I put it on my non-stick craft sheet and used a blending tool to rub ink from the sheet onto the tag in a circular motion, to keep the ink soft and to prevent splotches or dark patches. This is another technique Jennifer showed in her videos.

After the tag dried, I ran it through my Cuttlebug using a Curved Rectangle Nestie shape to die-cut and emboss it. I used a paint brush and water to create water droplets on the tag, which has the effect of lightening it or lifting the color, as shown by Jennifer in one of the videos. I dried the tag using a heat gun. Then I used Peeled Paint ink on a blending tool to ink just the edges of the die-cut shape and let this dry.

When the tag dried again, I stamped the sentiment on it, using VersaMark watermark ink. I covered it with white embossing powder, shook off the excess, and heat embossed it.

Next I selected a shimmery copper metallic cardstock with texture to be the base of my layout. I adhered the white Distress-Ink-stamped piece on top. Then I adhered the photo over my pencil circle (the pencil does not show). I attached the sentiment using pop dots for dimension. Finally, I hand wrote "Waterfalls Trip - May 2008" around the top edge of the photo.

I am so very pleased with how this layout turned out! Thanks Tiffany and Jennifer for the inspiration!

Materials used:

• cardstock: plain white


• Die Cuts with a View (DCWV) 12"x12" Metallic Stack (copper textured background paper)


• Hero Arts LL234 AI: Branches


• Hero Arts AR135 Archiver's Exclusive Flourish Branch set similar to F5042 Leaf Flourish


• Hero Arts CL267 Card Messages (sentiment)


• Hero Arts S5213 Dots and Flowers


• old, unknown scrapbooking template


• paintbrush and water


• pencil


• photo cut to 6" round


• Plaid All Night Media Pop Dots (1/8" thick)


• Ranger Distress Inks: Antique Linen (pale brown), Tea Dye (middle brown), Peeled Paint (green), and Worn Lipstick (pink)


• Ranger Embossing Powder: Seafoam White


• Ranger Inkssentials Blending Tool and Foam


• Ranger Inkssentials Heat-It Craft Tool (heat gun)


• Ranger Inkssentials Non-Stick Craft Sheet


• ruler


• scissors


• Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Permanent Marker: Brown


• shipping tag (sentiment)


• Tsukineko VersaMark watermark ink

Thanks for stopping by!

If I've accidentally offended you, I am truly sorry

An Open Letter to My Readers

Please allow me to start with a bit of background. I have recently discovered Google Reader and Blogger's "Following" feature and I've been enjoying them a lot.

Google Reader

In case you haven't heard of Google Reader before, I'd like to explain what it is. It is a way to capture the web address (url) of all the blogs you like to read into one place. Then it automatically keeps tracks of your favorite blogs and pulls down their newest posts and you can log in and check your favorite blogs from anywhere. It keeps track of which posts you've read and which are new-to-you, so you can catch up on all the latest. It's really great!

The only drawback is that you can't comment on blogs directly from Google Reader. You have to click on the blog-post header and it will open the person's blog so that you can leave a comment that way. But Google Reader is a great way to see what is new. And it is just one extra click to leave a comment. For me, the advantages far outweigh this one drawback.

Blogger's "Following" Feature

Google and Blogger are affiliated, so Blogger decided to capitalize on its relationship with Google and Google Reader. If you use Blogger, you can put a "Followers" widget on your blog. If you visit a blog that has this widget, and you want to add it to your Google Reader, all you have to do it click the "Follow" button in the Followers widget displayed on that blog. It makes adding blogs to your Google Reader quick and simple.

Otherwise you have to copy the web address (url), open your Google Reader, click "Add Subscription", and then paste in the web address. That's a lot of clicks. So the "Follow" button saves a lot of time.

You can also choose whether to "publicly" or "privately" follow a blog. That means that when you add the blog to your Google Reader, you can choose whether your avatar appears in that blog's Followers Widget as a follower. If you select "publicly" your Blogger picture will go into the group; if you select "privately" it won't.

Also, if you "publicly" follow a blog, it will appear on your Blogger Profile page in a list of "blogs you are following." This can be an interesting way of finding blogs that are new-to-you. If you enjoy one person's blog, chances are you might enjoy one or more of the blogs they follow, too.

If you have a Blogger blog, you can see if you have Followers by going to the Dashboard. (If you are on your blog, click New Post > Dashboard.) If you have followers, the number of followers will be listed by your blog name.

If you have followers and want to show them, you can add the Followers Widget to your blog on the Layout tab. From your blog, select Customize and the Layout tab appears. (If you're on the Dashboard, select Layout instead. I don't know why the terminology is different.) On the Layout tab, select Add a Gadget. One of the items in the Basics list is Followers. Select it and save it to add it to your blog.

Although Google Reader will allow you to "follow" any blog, whether it is a Blogger blog, TypePad blog, WordPress blog, or Apple/Mac blog, I don't know whether the other types of blogs have any features that show Followers. But, I can still see your blog in my Google Reader!

If I've accidentally offended you, I am truly sorry

Recently, I opened a Google Reader account and I've been adding my favorite blogs to my reader, following them publicly. This means that I like the blog so much that I want to continue to read it regularly and that I don't mind letting my blog readers or that blog's readers know that I like it.

I have also left comments on some of your blogs, to let you know that I am following your blog. And that if you choose to return the favor, that would be spiffy, but that you didn't have to. I sincerely meant this. I did not expect any of you to choose to follow my blog. But I am thrilled that MANY of you have. I consider it a great compliment each and every time and I am truly grateful.

Some of you have written back and politely declined, and that is totally cool, too. I respect that. Others said they had alredy added me to their reader and didn't see a need to delete me and add me back just for the "Followers" tool ... and I agree that's unnecessary. Whatever you choose to do is perfectly okay with me!

Unhappily, someone told me that my leaving such a comment was spam. Others may hold this opinion, too. I may have not expressed myself in my comments well initially, and for that, I am sorry. What I was trying to express is that I like your blog so much I want to read it all the time and I want the whole world to know it. And, if you feel the same way, that is truly super!

I was not advertising any products for sale. I was not insisting or demanding that any action take place. This was not a one-shot flash in the pan comment that I left without ever visiting again. The blogs I have chosen to follow are blogs that I have visited for months, that I visit regularly, and on which I leave comments regularly. I thought - and I hope! - that since you visit my blog, and leave comments for me too, that we are building relationships. I enjoy visiting your blogs, seeing your artwork, and learning more about you.

I have also read that many people in the blog world often trade blog links or website links out of friendship ... just like people in "real life" off the web would suggest a friend's writing or store or talents or suggest them for a job opening. In the past, some of my friends have asked me to trade Etsy "hearts" and I have asked a few of mine. I have read that asking to - and trading - links like this is common practice and appropriate protocol on the web. I didn't mean to be too pushy, or "in your face", or offensive. I thought I was operating within the proper ettiquette of the web and blogland.

My intention was to be nice, to let you know how much I enjoy your blog. My comment was intended to be a compliment. I also attempted to be respectful by acknowledging other things that you had written about in your blog, too. To let you know that I do read your blog and that I am interested in what you have to say.

I guess what I am trying to say is that if I have accidentally offended you with my comments on your blog, I am truly sorry. They weren't meant to offend. They were made in friendship with the best of intentions. It genuinely hurts me to think I may have offended you. I hope you will accept my sincere apology.

I value your friendship, your readership, your comments, and your repeat visits. I would not ever intentionally do something to give offense.

Thanks for stopping by.

End of Civilization Giveaway Winner!

Hello there! Today I am announcing the winner of last Wednesday's giveaway! The prize is a handmade greeting card featuring a print of one of my photographs. The card (blank/no message) will be placed with an envelope in a clear bag, then in an outer envelope from me.

The prize: a handmade card featuring a print of
End of Civilization:
(Click the image to view it larger.)

I selected a random winner from all qualified entries:

And the winner is ...
Scrappy Cat

Scrappy Cat said:
The photo is beautiful Anne - I'd never seen kudzu before. Pretty amazing stuff. And I've added you as a favorite seller in Etsy - my id is csgebhart.

Congratulations Scrappy Cat! You won with your extra entry for marking my Etsy store as a favorite! E-mail me (click the "e-mail me" link under my picture in the right column) with your snail mail address and I'll get this out to you!

Thanks to everyone who participated! I'll be having another giveaway next Wednesday!

And, as always, thanks for stopping by!

Father's Day Cards

Hello there! Today I'd like to share the Father's Day cards that I sent to our fathers.

When making these cards, I was inspired by Tiffany's "Piggy Tail Doll" Card to use a doll and kraft cardstock together. I also saw these great Paper Ice Cream Cones by Tiffany, and knew I wanted to use my new Modern Lines stamp, too.

One of the Father's Day cards:
(Click any image to view it larger.)

To make these cards, I started by stamping the Dots and Flowers pattern using VersaMark watermark ink onto some small bits of burnt orange and green cardstock. Then I covered the ink with clear embossing powder, shook off the excess, and heat embossed it. These embossed scraps will become the "pattern" on the dolls' tunics.

Next I stamped the Asian doll image using black ink onto white cardstock twice and set it aside. I also stamped the doll in black over top of the orange and green cardstock that I just embossed. I also stamped just the head of the doll onto additional scraps of green and orange cardstock, so that I could make matching hats. I set all these pieces aside to dry.

Meanwhile, I took some blue and burnt orange cardstock and stamped the Modern Lines background using watermark ink. I sprinkled clear embossing powder over each one, shook off the excess, and heat embossed them. Then I trimmed them to fit on the card base and leave a small margin all the way around.

I prepared white A2 sized card bases (4.25" x 5.5"). Then I stamped the letters for the word "dad" onto kraft cardstock using watermark ink. I heat embossed these using white embossing powder. Then I carefully cut them out and set them aside.

The other Father's Day card:

I selected some dark brown cardstock for contrast and die cut two Curved Rectangles shapes using Nesties in my Cuttlebug. Then I adhered the word "dad" to each one.

Now that the ink was dry, I used an embossing pen to trace the design and top knot of the dolls' hats on the orange and green cardstock and embossed with clear embossing powder. The embossing pen is watermark ink in a pen form, so that you can emboss your own handwriting or trace designs. Then I coated the black part of each hat using Glossy Accents for dimension and shine.

I cut out the white dolls to use as a base. Then I cut out the dolls' tunics and adhered them to the white doll bases. Once the glossy accents dried thoroughly, I cut out the dolls' hats and adhered them to the doll bases.

I adhered the Modern Lines background pieces to the card bases. Then I attached the "dad plaques". Finally, I adhered the dolls to the cards using pop dots for dimension. The overall look has simplicity in design, but it took a lot of steps to make these cards.

Materials used:

• cardstock: white, green, burnt orange, blue, kraft, dark brown


• EK Success Cutter Bee Scissors


• EK Success 3D-Dots: 1/8" squares


• Hero Arts S5213 Dots and Flowers


• Hero Arts S5218 Modern Lines


• Hero Arts LP146 Special Edition: Asian Dolls


• Ranger Archival Ink (waterproof): jet black


• Ranger Embossing Pen


• Ranger Embossing Powder: Seafoam White and Clear


• Ranger Inkssentials Glossy Accents


• Ranger Inkssentials Heat-It Craft Tool (heat gun)


• ProvoCraft Cuttlebug


• Spellbinders Nestabilities: Curved Rectangles and embossing pad


• Technique Tuesday Boulder Skyline lowercase alphabet


• Tsukineko VersaMark watermark ink

Thanks for stopping by!

Little Note Bear

Hello there! Today I'd like to share an adorable teddy bear card that I recently made during Hero Arts' "beinspired" Win-a-Day week.

I was inspired by Susanne Nilsson. In her interview on the Hero Arts blog, Susanne mentioned that she likes to color in images with pencils and she also likes to emboss. She also said that two of her favorite "go-to" colors are pink and orange. And she used the new Hero Arts Wallpaper Flowers stamp that I just love. She also said she likes sparkle on cards, which I added using some pearlescent pink ink.

My Little Note Bear card inspired by Susanne:
(Click any image to view it larger.)

To create this card, I started by stamping the teddy bear image using brown pigment ink onto white cardstock, and then setting it aside to dry. Then I cut a piece of kraft cardstock for an A2 sized card base (4.25" x 5.5"). I stamped the Wallpaper Flowers image on it using VersaMark watermark ink and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I just love how the white embossing looks on the kraft!

Next I took some patterned paper by Little Bicycle, and punched out a 2 1/2" circle using a punch. I also punched a 3" scalloped circle out of orange cardstock. I used a pearlescent pink ink to edge both circles to add pop and sparkle. I also used the ink to stamp the sentiment onto white cardstock. Then I set all of these pieces aside so the pigment ink could dry.

A dimensional view of the card:

When the teddy bear was dry, I colored it in using colored pencils. Then I carefully cut it out leaving a bit of a white border. When the sentiment was dry, I cut it out, too. Then I assembled the card. I adhered the two circles together as a matte and adhered the bear on top. I attached the circles and bear to the card using 1/16" thick foam, for dimension. I attached the sentiment using 1/8" thick foam, so that it pops out even further. I just love how this card turned out! It is so adorable!

Materials used:

• cardstock: white, kraft, and orange


• EK Success 3D-Dots: 1/16" squares and 1/8" squares


• EK Success Cutter Bee scissors


• Hero Arts LP143 Design Accents: A Little Note


• Hero Arts F5170 Bouquet Bear


• Hero Arts K5185 Wallpaper Flowers


• Little Yellow Bicycle Sharon Ann Baby Safari BSQ-105 Pink Floral / Girl Small Square 12"x12" cardstock


• Marvy Uchida Clever Lever Giga punch (purple): 3" scalloped circle


• Marvy Uchida Clever Lever Mega punch (pink): 2 1/2" circle


• Prismacolor Premier colored pencils


• Ranger embossing powder: seafoam white


• Ranger Inkssentials Heat-It Craft Tool (heat gun)


• Tsukineko Brilliance Dew Drop pigment ink: Pearlescent Orchid (pink)


• Tsukineko VersaFine pigment ink: Vintage Sepia


• Tsukineko VersaMark watermark ink</li>

Thanks for stopping by!

End of Civilization Giveaway!

Hello! It's another installment of my Wednesday photography series. Today's photograph is called "End of Civilization".

End of Civilization Large Framed Print
(Click the image to view it larger.)

End of Civilization depicts a red chair amongst a background of green kudzu - an invasive plant species that even covers the trees. If you've never seen kudzu before, this is what it looks like! It literally covers up everything in its path. To me, it suggested what might happen if civilization ends ... the kudzu will take over everything!

Close up of the leaves and chair:
(Click the image to view it larger.)

Kudzu looks like a small vine from a distance. You don't realize how deep it is or how large the leaves are until you get right up in it. The chair in this image is near the edge of a patch of kudzu, otherwise it would sink in completely! And the leaves in this photograph are as big as your hand. They can grow even larger - as big as a dinner plate! They are sooooo huge! I wanted to include the chair in this image to give a sense of scale to all that kudzu!

End of Civilization Postcards

End of Civilization is available on a set of 8 postcards. They are printed on glossy paper and are 4" wide by 6" tall. You can use the postcards to send messages worldwide. You could even save one for yourself and frame it!

GREAT BIG SALE!
11%-28% off all CaféPress items!

The items shown above are from my CaféPress store. Recently, CaféPress decided to change some of their policies and procedures. As a result, it will no longer be beneficial to me to continue my relationship with CaféPress and I will be closing my CaféPress store in early July.

As a result, I have marked down ALL of my CaféPress items - from 11-28%. If you ever wanted a framed print, set of postcards, journal, or other photographic gift item, NOW IS THE TIME!

The framed prints are especially great deals - and marked down the most. I simply have not found a way to offer gallery-quality frames, plexi, and a matte for less!

Large framed prints - $79.99 $57.49 - 28% off!
Small framed prints - $69.99 $49.99 - 28% off!
Journals - $16.99 $13.24 - 22% off!
Mousepads - $14.99 $12.99 - 13% off
Greeting Cards (5"x7"), Individual - $4.49 $4.00 - 11% off
Greeting Cards, Set of 10 same design - $21.99 $18.49 - 16% off
Greeting Cards, Set of 20 same design - $34.99 $29.49 - 16% off
Postcards, Set of 8 - $9.99 $7.99 - 20% off
Notecards (A2), Set of 10 - $14.99 $12.49 - 17% off
Notecards, Set of 20 - $24.99 $21.49 - 14% off
Keepsake Boxes - $29.99 $24.99 - 17% off
Framed Tiles - $14.99 $11.74 - 22% off
Tile Coasters - $7.49 $5.99 - 20% off
Magnets, Rectangular - $4.99 $4.24 - 15% off
Magnets, Round - $5.23 $4.00 - 24% off
Buttons - $5.23 $4.00 - 24% off
Stickers, rectangular - $4.49 $3.74 - 17% off
Stickers, oval - $4.49 $3.74 - 17% off
Stickers, bumper - $5.49 $4.49 - 18% off

Sale prices will be in effect from now until June 30th. Limited time only!
Note: The prices on these items will not go any lower! This is as low as they go!

For orders of $50 or more, check this page (just above the slideshow) to see if there is a coupon code for an additional $5 off your order. You must enter this coupon code during checkout in the box marked "Coupon / Promotional Code" for it to apply.

And now for the giveaway!

If you like this photographic image, I'd love to hear from you! Simply leave a comment on this post and you will be entered in a drawing for a handmade greeting card, featuring a print of this photo. The card and an envelope will be mailed to you (blank/no message) in a clear bag, then in an outer envelope from me, so that you can use it how you choose. For example, you could use it as a greeting card or you can frame it and keep it for yourself. It's up to you!

The prize: a handmade card featuring a print of End of Civilization

The details:

• Comment on this post on or before Sunday, June 21st, at midnight EST, to be entered in the drawing for the handmade card featuring a print of End of Civilization. I'd love to hear what you like about this image. Or what you think about this series on my blog!


• Comments cannot be anonymous. If I can't click through your name to your blog, please leave your name and an e-mail address such as "yourname[at]email[dot]com".


• No purchase is necessary to win; however, commenters who also buy one of my CaféPress items (it doesn't have to be this image) before the deadline will get THREE additional entries into the drawing for EACH item purchased. (Sets will count as one item.) Similarly, commenters who also buy one of my Etsy items (it doesn't have to be this image) before the deadline will get TWO additional entries into the drawing for EACH item purchased.


• Commenters who mark (or who have already marked) my Gaal Creative Etsy store as a favorite seller will receive ONE additional entry into the drawing. (Please include your Etsy ID so I can tell who you are on Etsy!)


• Please leave only one comment per person.


• Commenters who do not follow these guidelines will be disqualified.


• Winner will be announced next week!

Good luck!

And thanks for stopping by!

Laugh and Enjoy Butterfly Card

Hi there! Today I'd like to share a card that I made for my sister. I made it during Hero Arts' "inspired by win-a-day" challenge.

I was inspired to make this card based on a pierced card created by Monika in Germany. It was the first time I saw someone put dots on the wings of the butterfly and I really liked the effect. That is what inspired me to create this card.

Laugh and Enjoy Butterfly Card:
(Click the image to view it larger.)

To make this card, I started by stamping the Heart Wing Butterfly using sepia brown ink onto plain white cardstock. Then I set it aside to dry, since pigment inks can take a while to dry fully.

Next I created a card base out of textured white cardstock (4.25" x 5.5" or A2 sized). I stamped the sentiment across the bottom in sepia brown pigment ink and set it aside to dry.

Meanwhile, I used my Label One Nestabilities dies to cut two label shapes, one in textured green cardstock and the other from Basic Grey patterned paper. I ran them through my Cuttlebug and both die cut and embossed the label shapes. This gives them a bit of elegance and dimension. I adhered the label shapes together and then carefully adhered them to the card base, so as to not smudge the sentiment.

When the butterfly was thoroughly dry, I used two colors of orange colored pencils to color it in. Then I used a Liquid Paper correction pen to add white dots along the center of each wing. This reminds me of the white dots you will see on Monarch Butterfly wings and was what inspired me most about Monika's card.

After the Liquid Paper dried, I folded up the wings of the butterfly. Then I adhered three orange gems along the butterfly's body. Two are large, but the third one is a bit smaller. To finish the card, I adhered the butterfly to the label shapes on the card.

Materials used:

• Basic Grey Archaic 6"x6" paper pad: Pods pattern


• cardstock: white, textured white, and textured green


• gemstones: orange (unknown brand)


• Hero Arts CL292 Celebrate All Day (sentiment)


• Hero Arts F5158 Heart Winged Butterfly


• Liquid Paper correction pen


• Prismacolor Premier colored pencils: PC918 orange and PC921 pale vermillion


• Provo Craft Cuttlebug (used to die cut with Nestabilities)


• Spellbinders Nestabilities Label One and embossing pad


• Tsukineko VersaFine pigment ink: Vintage Sepia

Please consider hopping over to leave Monika a nice comment on her card or her blog!

And thanks for stopping by!

Announcing my new Etsy store!

Hello there! Today I have some very exciting news to share! I have officially opened my own Etsy store! It is called gaalcreative.etsy.com!

A few of the items in my new Etsy store:

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade gaalcreative.etsy.com

I will be selling my photography and mixed media art through this Etsy store. All of the handmade photo cards that I have shown you so far on my blog are available on my Etsy store. As I release a new photo card every other week with my giveaways, I will make that photo card available in my Etsy store, too.

By the way, if you are an Etsy member, please consider marking me as a favorite! :-)

Thanks for stopping by!

Green Frog Giveaway Winner!

Hello there! Today I am announcing the winner of last Wednesday's giveaway! The prize is a handmade greeting card featuring a print of one of my photographs. The card (blank/no message) will be placed with an envelope in a clear bag, then in an outer envelope from me.

The prize: a handmade card featuring a print of Green Frog:
(Click the image to view it larger.)

I selected a random winner from all qualified entries:

And the winner is ...
Diana!

Diana said:
Oh, look at Mr. Froggie. Isn't he cute. Love your photographs!

Congratulations Diana! I already have your address, so I'll send this out to you soon!

Thanks to everyone who participated! I'll be having another giveaway next Wednesday!

And, as always, thanks for stopping by!

Blog Award: I Love Your Blog Dahling

Hi there! Today I'd like to share a blog award that was kindly bestowed on me by my friend Julie called: I Love Your Blog Dahling!

Blog Award: I Love Your Blog Dahling!

There are only two rules to follow with this blog award:

1. Post the award on your blog.


2. Pass it along to whomever you want.

I always find the passing along part so difficult. I have so many blogging friends that I enjoy. I am so grateful to have met so many wonderful artists, bloggers, and friends and I love being part of the blogging community.

That being said, I also understand the value of awards to expose us for a few blogs that might be new to us. So, in that spirit, here are a few blogs that I love to visit and I hope you'll stop by to visit them, too:

• Paula: Pajalu's Papers & Fabrics Addiction. Paula and I met through the Hero Arts Flickr Pool. She makes fabulous cards and she is servant to two kitties, like I am!


• Kelly: Lovin The Life I Color. Kelly is another of my Hero Arts friends and is one of the first-ever Hero Arts Hosties. I have really been enjoying her bird and owl creations lately and love seeing what she posts next!


• Kimmie: One Upon a Blue Crow. Kimmie and I met through blogging. She is a kitty servant like Paula and me. I love her primitive paintings and the cute quotes and story lines she posts with them. Their smiling faces brighten my days.


• Lisa: Lisa Lectura Creations. Lisa is another mixed media painter whose work I love to follow. I like the rich textures and angelic faces that she creates. The eyes of her girls are so expressive, delicate, and vulnerable.


• Candace: EyeCandy. Candace and I met through blogging. I love seeing her latest drawings or pictures or hearing about her latest Art Shenanigans!


• Suzanne: Suzz's Stamping Spot. Suzanne or "Suzz" is another one of my Hero Arts pals although we also frequently visit each other's blogs. I love that she posts the products she uses for each card she posts.


• Linda: Just My Little Bit. Linda and I are blog friends. I love that she is brave enough to try new artistic techniques and post her progress so we can learn along with her. I love that she experiments and tries new things and shares all about it!


• Sarah: Circles of Rain. Sarah and I met in the blogosphere. I can never guess what she will post about: Lego houses, white spiders, or rusty scissors. She posts photos of her world, of her art, and of interesting shadow shapes. I really enjoy seeing what she's up to!

I hope you'll take a moment or two to stop by these blogs (including Julie's!) and leave a nice comment. It takes just a moment, but it is soooooo nice to receive comments! :-)

Special thanks to all my blog readers, followers, and friends - even if you are not specifically mentioned here, I treasure you! I appreciate your continued friendship, support, and interest. Thanks for stopping by!

A Great Big Smile Card

Hello! Today I'd like to share a fun card that I made for a friend in soft, muted colors.

A Great Big Smile Card:
(Click any image to view it larger.)

To make this card, I started by stamping the doll in waterproof black into onto plain white cardstock and set it aside to dry. Then I used blue and rust colored pigment ink to stamp the sentiment onto patterned yellow paper and set it aside to dry.

Meanwhile, I used my Cuttlebug and Spellbinders Nestabilities ("Nesties") in the Curved Rectangle shape to cut and emboss a piece of gray cardstock and Basic Grey patterned paper. (Instructions on how to use the Nesties and embossing pad with a Cuttlebug come with the Nesties.)

I made an A2 sized card base (4.25" x 5.5") from textured putty cardstock. Then I adhered the Basic Grey patterned paper to the gray curved rectangle shape, and adhered both to the card base.

I punched a 3" scalloped circle from burnt orange cardstock. Once the sentiment was dry, I punched out the sentiment using a 2 1/2" circle punch. Then I adhered the sentiment to the burnt orange scalloped circle. I used 1/16" pop dots to adhere the sentiment to the card base, for dimension.

Then I colored in the doll using colored pencils. I blended the colored pencil using odorless mineral spirits (OMS) to make them appear smoother. I added white highlights to the center of the flower on the doll's dress and to the black dots running across the doll's dress using an opaque white pen. Then I carefully cut out the doll. I adhered the doll to the card using 1/8" pop dots. These are thicker than the ones used to adhere the sentiment, so that the doll pops out even further.

A picture showing the dimension on the card:

In the picture above, the difference in dimension can be seen. The sentiment is raised up on 1/16" pop dots, while the doll is raised up on thicker 1/8" pop dots. This makes the doll pop even farther forward on the card.

Materials used:

• cardstock: white, gray, burnt orange, textured putty


• Basic Grey Offbeat Light Hearted 12" x 12" cardstock


• Clearsnap/Colorbox Cat's Eye pigment ink: Roussillon (rust) and Peacock (blue)


• Derwent watercolour pencil: 64-terra cotta


• EK Success 3D-Dots: 1/16" squares


• EK Success Cutter Bee scissors


• Hero Arts LL229 Special Edition: A Great Big


• Hero Arts CL297 Four Dolls


• Marvy Uchida Clever Lever Giga punch (purple): 3" scalloped circle


• Marvy Uchida Clever Lever Mega punch (pink): 2 1/2" circle


• Odorless mineral spirits (OMS) - Mona Lisa brand (Michael's)


• Plaid All Night Media Pop Dots (1/8" thick)


• Provo Craft Bitty Scrap Pad: Into the Woods (patterned yellow paper)


• Provo Craft Cuttlebug (used with Nesties)


• Prismacolor Premier colored pencils: PC942-yellow ochre and PC928-blush pink


• Ranger Archival Ink (waterproof): jet black


• Ranger Inkssentials Opaque White Pen


• Spellbinders Nestabilities Curved Rectangles and embossing pad

Thanks for stopping by!

Green Frog Giveaway!

Howdy! It's another installment of my Wednesday photography series. Today's photograph is called "Green Frog".

Green Frog Large Framed Print
(Click the image to view it larger.)

This image of a green frog against a leafy background is a study in textures, light, and shadow. Many native cultures in North and South America associate the frog with the weather, especially with rain. Because the frog undergoes such metamorphosis during its life, it is also associated with creativity.

My "Green Frog" image was juried into a very competitive student show in 2006, where only 10% of the entries were accepted.

What I really love about this image is the contrast between the shiny, glossy skin of the frog and the matte texture of the leaves. I love how bumpy the frog's skin is. And I love the frog's big round toes. I also love how the lines of the big background leaf draw your eye right to the frog.

The large framed print is 10" tall by 14" wide, matted and framed to 15" tall by 19" wide. It is printed using archival inks on acid-free paper. And the frames are gallery quality.

Green Frog Small Framed Print

The small framed print has slightly different dimensions, when you have a shorter visual space to fill. With matte and frame, it measures 11" tall by 19" wide. It is also printed onto acid-free paper using archival inks and comes in a gallery quality metal frame.

Green Frog Mousepad

I also love the Green Frog as a mousepad. I even have one myself! The mousepads are soft and thick, and are perfect for rollerball or optical mouse use. A rubber backing prevents the mousepad from sliding. And, the mousepad is even machine washable!

And now for the giveaway!

If you like this photographic image, I'd love to hear from you! Simply leave a comment on this post and you will be entered in a drawing for a handmade greeting card, featuring a print of this photo. The card and an envelope will be mailed to you (blank/no message) in a clear bag, then in an outer envelope from me, so that you can use it how you choose. For example, you could use it as a greeting card or you can frame it and keep it for yourself. It's up to you!

The prize: a handmade card featuring a print of Green Frog

The details:

• Comment on this post on or before Sunday, June 7th, at midnight EST, to be entered in the drawing for the handmade card featuring a print of Green Frog. I'd love to hear what you like about this image or my photographic prints or gifts. Or what you think about this series on my blog!


• Comments cannot be anonymous. If I can't click through your name to your blog, please leave your name and an e-mail address such as "yourname[at]email[dot]com".


• No purchase is necessary to win; however, commenters who also buy one of my prints or photographic gifts (it doesn't have to be this image) before the deadline will get TWO additional entries into the drawing for EACH item purchased. (Sets will count as one item.)


• Please leave only one comment per person.


• Commenters who do not follow these guidelines will be disqualified.


• Winner will be announced next week!

Good luck!

And thanks for stopping by!

Fight Climate Change on Your Blog!

Hello there! I just came across a way that we can fight climate change on our blogs. It is very cool!

All you have to do is (1) go to Brighter Planet's 350 Challenge, download a badge like the one below, and post it on your blog. Then, (2) just let them know you've posted it. In return, Brighter Planet will automatically purchase and donate 350 pounds of carbon offsets, as a "thank you" for your spreading the word on your blog.

One of the 350 Challenge Badges:

That's all that you have to do! And 350 pounds of carbon will be offset in your name. That's like flicking off 100 lightbulbs. Or doing without your car for two whole weeks!

I love simple things like this that we can do - FOR FREE! - to help keep our planet healthy.

My husband and I have taken this idea even further, by purchasing our own carbon offsets and supporting renewable energy sources. One organization that offers carbon offsets is called NC GreenPower. For as little as $4 a month, you can support 1200 kilowatt hours of cleaner, renewable energy a year. Generating this amount of renewable energy offsets 2,497 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. It is the equivalent of planting 192 trees, or not driving for more than TWO MONTHS!

I hope you'll join me by posting a 350 Challenge Badge on your blog!

Thanks for stopping by!