"Hey Jude ... take a sad song & make it better!" - the Beatles

My goal is to turn my disabilities around to abilities using art therapy as a means of stroke rehabilitation on my hands & arms. I want to also use cards to spread kindness, show different fun card techniques, bring awareness to issues that are important to me, and to just spread joy in general!

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Dog Card Series (3) - Dogs Just Make Me Happy!!!

I was in need of some happy time.  Do you ever need that?  Not JUST time doing something you enjoy doing (in my case that would be card making, watching YouTube, or playing with makeup!!!)  But, some time doing your hobby and also combining something you LOVE with it.  That is what I did today.  I created "happy time" during my art therapy and just did a bunch of doggy cards!!!  Woop Woop Yeah!!!  I not only created the ones that I show in this video, but I also created a ton more!  Some I put on my Instagram and some I just stuck in the mail to my friends and family.  I played some Bruno Mars, had my four dogs in the craft room and had the window open so they could bark at the passing dogs in the neighborhood, and I even ate a donut!  Haha  It was a fantastic day!
Dog Series - Art Impressions Doggy Kisses!!!

The first card that I included in the video I actually made specifically for my nephew dog, Yogi.  He is a gorgeous goldendoodle and his paw is hurting so he needed a little pick me up.  I'm sure my Brother will read the card to him (my Brother knows I am a card fanatic and that it also is therapy for my hands so he understands his nutty sister sending his dog a card!!!)  I didn't get to add this card to the picture with all of the cards because I had to get it out in the mail quickly!!!
Card for my sweet nephew dog Yogi!

For all of the cards that I show in the video today I used the Art Impressions Doggy Kisses stamp set and colored the images in with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  I also used various colors of Simon Says Stamp card stock for the card bases which I made into A2 sized cards.  I had some miscellaneous dog themed patterned paper that I used for added interest and I also enhanced the images with the clear wink of stella pen and my tonic nuvo drops.
Supplies used for doggy cards
Spectrum Noir alcohol markers used for the coloring

On the next card I used some paper pieces that I had from a Stampin' Up kit that I bought and thought that they went really well with the color scheme I was going for on these cards.  I loved the way they looked with the dogs and I loved that I could pop out the hearts and then use them as decorations on the same card.  It gave it a really cute effect and I thought it pulled the card together nicely.
At least you don't need a cone!!!

For the next card, I tried to color the doggy like a little rottweiler.  I love those dogs so much - well I love all dogs!!!  I thought this card looked really masculine and I loved how the patterned paper matched well with that cute little dog!  I cut the paper with the Blueprints 24 die from My Favorite Things and the small pieces were from the stitched rectangles die from My Favorite Things.
Sending doggy kisses!!!

On the final card in the video I wanted to make it really simple and one layered so I just used the patterned paper as the focus of this card.  Actually, once you put this cute little dachshund on the card all wrapped up in his bandage, he is the one and only star of the show!!!
Sweet and simple precious pup!

Hope you enjoy this little video and I hope you take some time today to give yourself some happy time!  You deserve it!  Jude  :-)
___________________________________

Social Media Links: (Please visit me for more fun art therapy!)
YouTube - Click HERE!
Hey Jude Cards Instagram - Click HERE!
Jude U Personal Instagram - Click HERE!
Snapchat Username - judeunnone
See you there!  Thanks!
___________________________________
LINKS:

Stampin'Up - if you are interested in anything from Stampin'Up - click HERE!!
*A new catalog is coming out for Stampin' Up in about a month - if you are interested then just go to the site listed and add yourself to my customer list - fun fun fun!
To order the Simon Says Stamp monthly kit - click HERE!
___________________________________
Supplies:


Friday, April 28, 2017

Stashback Friday - 3 - Tree Hugs (Engagement Card)

For my third Stashback Friday, a series where I try to "Flashback Friday" and only use items in my stash, I pulled out the Tree Hugs stamp set by Concord and 9th.  I love this set!  Concord and 9th is absolutely one of my favorite stamp companies for all of their innovative designs and their interesting concepts that they come up with to make your cards more unique and fun.  I have had this Tree Hugs set for quite a while and felt that this was the perfect time to use it as our nephew just got engaged to the gal is who is perfect for him!  We love little Sarah!!!  So, I wanted to use this as an engagement card and to let them know how happy we are for them and excited about their future together.

I started with some Tim Holtz distress watercolor paper and taped it down to my board so that I could easily mask and brush color on as needed.  I then used the tree trunk portion of the stamp set to create three trees - one solid tree trunk and then two trees off to the side that were kind of hiding behind each other.  I definitely learned this from Greg over on Concord and 9th's web site.  This is another thing I totally love about their company - they have awesome tutorials up to help you understand these fun stamps and dies and make it easier for you to recreate every time.  With my bad memory, I can make something once and completely forget how I made it two seconds later!!!
Stashback Friday - Concord and 9th Tree Hugs

I stamped the trunks with Memento Tuxedo black ink and then I used my new little brushes that I talked about in my last haul video that seem to be a little bit more conducive to my hand issues than the blender tools to sponge on some Distress Inks in Broken China, Peacock Feathers and Evergreen Bough as the background.  I created a mask with some full stick post-it notes and they worked perfectly.  After that dried a bit, I then used Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and Antique Linen to create the colors of the tree trunks.  I wanted them to look a bit rough so I was a tad heavy handed on the blending.  I also added some of the additional stamps that were the knot in the tree and lines to give it more of a rustic look.  I then added the large heart, the Mr. & Mrs., and the Forever.  I also added the smaller heart in Avery Elle Cherry ink to give a little pop to the front of the card.
Supplies for Stashback Friday Card

When the card had fully dried I cut the panel with the MFT Blueprints 24 large die and also a piece of fun foam to give it that added dimension.  I then used Stampin' Up's Snail adhesive (my favorite) to adhere these together and to the card, which was a beautiful piece of Audrey Blue Simon Says Stamp card stock cut down to an A2 size card base.  On the inside, using Avery Elle Sapphire Blue Ink, I stamped the sentiment "Happily Ever After" from an older Hero Arts wedding set that I had just to give it a little something extra.  I then added some red Spectrum Noir glitter pen to thicken up the red heart on the front and give it a little sparkle and, Boom, we were done!
Sweet and Simple Engagement Card using Concord and 9th Products

I loved how this clean and simple card came out and I loved that it was part of my Stashback Friday series!  I love using items that I haven't used in a long time and I am always hopeful that it makes me dig more into my stash!!!!  Hope you enjoyed and can't wait to see you for a couple videos I have in store next week.  Jude  :-)
_______________________________________

Social Media Links: (Please visit me for more fun art therapy!)
YouTube - Click HERE!
Hey Jude Cards Instagram - Click HERE!
Jude U Personal Instagram - Click HERE!
Snapchat Username - judeunnone
See you there!  Thanks!
_______________________________________
NOTE - there is a new Stampin' Up Catalog coming out in a month and it is full of some awesome things so if you are interested, just go to the link below and enter your address for me to send you a catalog - fun!!!!

Stampin'Up - if you are interested in anything from Stampin'Up - click HERE!!
To order the Simon Says Stamp monthly kit - click HERE!
_________________________________________
Supplies: