Gel Print Birthday Card

Hello Friends!!!!  I hope you are having a good July!!!  Last week was so hot in Iowa but it has cooled down to something a bit more comfortable for this week.  Still plenty warm but so much better.

This card was made for a young man's birthday.  You can maybe tell that he turned 19 :-)  The background is part of a Gel Press Plate print and I added embossing powder around the edges.  Then there is some blue washi tape and the black and white strips with words or numbers are from a Tim Holtz Idea-ology set of tapes.  The ring around the 19 is a black plastic ring from something and I used embossing powder on it.  

A Month of ATCs (that's 30)

Hello Friends!!!!!!!!  Long time no blog!!  Over two months since my last post.  It's been busy.  Lots of time working in the shop and lots of time with the grandbabies.  This picture of Lola and Daniel was taken about a month ago when everyone was here at the same time (so they were both about 4 months).  They are growing so fast!!!  We usually get to see them each at least once a week, sometimes more.  

Here they are towards the end of February, so just a few weeks old. 

I do get in some creative time and post quite a bit on Instagram (and FB).  It just seems harder to make time to write a blog post.  I'll try to do better.

There was a challenge for the month of June, #atcad2019, that my daughter was interested in and wanted me to play along also.  We were to make an ATC (artist trading card) every day for the month of June.  I got behind at times but always managed to catch up and actually did 30 ATCs.  (for anyone that doesn't know, and atc is the size of a sports card, 2 1/2" x 3 1/2")  These are all posted on my Instagram account, many with additional process/supply pictures.  Here I'll just share the finished atc with no additional details but I'm totally happy to answer any question you might have.  I gave myself an additional challenge when I started.  That was to start every atc with an already made (or started) background.  I have piles and files and boxes of background play that need to get used.  It also would save a bit of time.  I must say though, it was hard at times.  I love making backgrounds and sometimes I'd think, "oh, I should try this; or play with that" but I'd rein myself in an choose something already done.  Many times I did build upon the started background though, adding more layers... fun stuff!!!  And I truly did have fun doing the challenge!!!

Here they all are in chronological order, Days 1 thru 30.

(not seen in the pic - the white die cut flower is covered in Distress Rock Candy Dry Glitter)