Curt's Best Shots Slideshow

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Blog Candy Winner Announced!

Hey All! Today's post is dedicated to 3 things: 1. Announcing the winner of my blog candy 2. Posting two new cards, and 3. Saying thanks to a couple of wonderful people who sent me RAKs last week. So, on we go. . . .Thanks so much for playing this edition of my blog candy contest! We have a winner! Remember, it was the person who came up number 13 on the Random.Org list. Can I have a drum roll please? Bumbumbumbumbumbubumbumbumbum. . . and the winner is. . . .Toni from Whimsical Thoughts! Congrats Toni! Send me your address so I can send you your stuff! Everyone should go take a look at her blog (whimsical thoughts). She has some awesome, adorable Halloween cards going on! Here is the list of names as it was drawn on Random.org:

1. Belas Creating Place
2. The Rubbermaid - Pat
3. Sue
4. Margie
5. Tammy Hershberger
6. Sena
7. Cardcrazy
8. Cogghe
9. Denise (Denise Love Stamps)
10. Jan
11. Monika Reeck
12. Glee
13. Toni (Whimsical Thoughts)
14. Catherine
15. Deedee
16. Jan Scholl
17. Scossie Jane
18. Lauri
19. Karen (Six Wacky Women)
20. Deb Neerman
21. Erin
22. Bunny B
23. Denise W.
24. Juliann
25. Julie
26. V Colbourne
27. Judy
28. Jamie Martin
29. Jean
30. Rita
31. DPKennedy


And speaking of blog candy, head over to Wild Dragonfly Designs for a chance at some very cool blog candy from my good blogging friend Danielle.

Today's card I did for no special reason. I bought this paper at Hobby Lobby with this card in my head. Now it is out of my head and on my blog. . .here it is:





I pictured using turquoise with the black and cream color of the paper. I love those colors together. I also love butterflies. The paper is from The Paper Studio. I used my Nesties for the circles, and my Cuttlebug for the butterfly. Stamped the sentiment with black Colorbox ink, added the little turquoise jewels, tied the ribbon and done!

The next card is another Halloween card. I remember seeing a card somewhere where they had stamped an image all along the side, then cut the edging along the stamped image. I immediately got the idea to use this technique for a Halloween card. Here it is:



I stamped the spider webs (Inkadinkado) along the bottom of a long card, then cut them out along the bottom to give the effect above. I used a glitter pen to go over the main part of the webs (see detail below), added a jewel in the center of each, stamped the spiders and the sentiment (Inkadinkado), then added a black strip of card stock at the bottom for contrast.



The card stock is actually orange, however I shot these outside in direct sunlight, and it appears the card stock is yellow.

Now finally, I wanted to say a HUGE heartfelt thank you to two sweet, sweet people for the nice RAKs they sent me for absolutely no reason! I'm just blown away by it! The first is from Janine at 2bKrafty. Go visit her to see how elegant and classy the cards are that she creates! I LOVE visiting her blog, and she so inspires me. Here is what she sent:



Along with that super cute card she enclosed were tons of sticker sheets, an adorable Halloween stamp and a package of Halloween embellishments, texture plates, mini mini albums, a set of clear stamps, well you see it all up there! Thank you Janine! I appreciated it so much and I'll put them to good use!

The next was from Denise at Denise Loves Stamps. Her creations are so sweet, and I don't get to see enough of them! This is what she sent:



Her card was just beautiful and tucked inside was a really cute clear stamp set! Denise, thanks so much! It was so so sweet of you!

I'm a lucky, lucky guy. I have so many great readers who take the time to stop in and comment, and it just makes me very humbled to know that I am visited by some of the most talented stampers in Blogsville! Thanks to all of you! I appreciate you all very much!

Well, that's it for this post! Stay tuned for some Autumn cards coming up and a couple of other projects I'm working on. Don't forget to take a look at the "Picture of the Week". Is this little guy cute or what? Look at those huge doe eyes, and if you look really close you will see that long "tongue" sucking up that nectar. I'll see you all on your blogs!

Best,

Curt O'Brien
"God help me be the person that my dogs think I am."


29 comments:

Deb Neerman said...

Congratulations to Toni!!

Curt, your latest cards are drop-dead gorgeous!! I LOVE the spider web edge you cut ... and the turquoise, black, and cream color combo rocks the planet!

Thanks so much for sharing your goodness and your wonderful cards with us; you da bomb!!!

~Big hugs, Deb

Kristie said...

Gorgeous creations again! LOVE the butterfly card! and how totally spoilt are you? isn't it lovely to recieve nice surprises in the mail...much better than nasty bills...LOL!!!

WhimsicalThoughts said...

Whoo hooo, I'm so excited that I won! Yea me, I needed that seeing that there is a 95% chance that I will need to have knee surgery again (it will be my 9th surgery)! Oh Curt, you out did yourself again, I totally love the spider web card, what a great idea! I love the butterfly one too not to mention the color combo you used! As always, great job!

Bumbles and Fairy-Tales said...

Oh my! I'm just loving that spidey card :) You really go over and beyond with your cards Curt!!!

Congrats to Toni!!! Very well deserved my friend ;)

xo, margie

Erin said...

I love your new cards. I hope I get the cuttlebug for christmas because i just love what you do with your cards...

Catherine said...

Both cards are just adorable, i love that you run your butterfly on a CB and love that you stamp spider web on the bottom and cut it..very cool!

6 wacky women said...

Hi Curt, I just love your new cards! Butterflies are my fav...and the spiderwebs are too cute. Have a great day!!
Karen

Jan Scholl said...

Peel offs! You got peel offs! Aren't they the bomb!! There is a company in Iowa that does the coolest ones-and I was too tired to go see them at the stamp show. And too broke. dangit, can't remember the company. . But the Brits are crazy for them. Google Peel offs. http://www.peel-offs.com/en/index you can start here. I expect to see some cool designs soon on this blog. Now I need some benedryl. all this watery post Gustav and Ike--no one thinks that Hurricanes messes with midwest-HA!

Bunny B said...

Congrats to Toni!! I love your cards, Curt! Especially the Halloween one!

Unknown said...

I love your spider card! Its awesome! I love how you cut the bottom around the webs! Gives interesting shape that I haven't seen before!

That picture! hehehe, i love it. Bugs are great to take pictures of! :D

Lauri said...

Congratulations Toni!!!

That spider web edge is great! Thanks for the tip!!

thimbles bobbins paper and ink said...

Curt, I just discovered your blog and I know I'll be back a lot! WOW! Your photography is spectacular, your cards are gorgeous and inspiring and your pups are darling! I am owned by two - soon will have three - Newfoundland dogs so I know how our four-legged friends steal our hearts.

Your butterfly card is particularly gorgous and if you don't mind I'd like to work with your same layout and theme.

Thanks for sharing your talents!

Jennifer

Janine said...

Curt your cards are fabulous. Especially your Halloween one.. Love the edge you did on it!!
You have a great day!!!

Anonymous said...

Curt...it is a delight visiting your blog!!!
I love your work - cards and photography.
thank you.

Anonymous said...

LOVE THAT "LONG" HALLOWEEN SPIDER CARD.....AND THAT "BUG" HOW DO YOU FIND THOSE MEMORABLE PICS? YOU ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST. LOVE YA, MOM

Sankari W. said...

Wow Curt! Great cards!! Love that contrast of the turquoise with the black and the cream - beautiful paper, beautiful layout! and that is such a great inspiration for a Halloween card - love the effect of an "edge" that is given to the cards by cutting along the edge of the spider webs - the bling in the middle of the webs and the glitter - totally make it even more awesome! Beautiful cards and beautiful picture! Best wishes from Iowa!!
Sankari :) (sorry for not writing back sooner - I am juggling 3 part time jobs - and these two weeks have been busy - I need a vacation! and quick!) :)

DeeDee said...

Curt my dear....are you sure you are not a professional photographer??? That POTW is.....WOW.....it's amazing!!! Um hello...that spider web card is stinkin' COOL man!!! I love that....now I gotta try that!!!! LOL!!! Oh, I almost forgot...YAY to Toni for winning the BC...have FUN!!! HUGS Curt!!!

dpkennedy said...

Wow you have some great friends-what great stuff you got! The stamp with the pumpkin pulling the wagon is one of my favorites! I can't wait to see what you do with it. (reminds me to pull mine out and ink it up :)

The butterfly card is beautiful with that bold turquoise. And your halloween card is superb! Love how you cut around the webs! Awesome job!

Rita said...

Congrats Toni!

I luv your butterfly card, that paper is so beautiful & luv the turquoise with the black! I also luv what you did with the halloween card...great idea to cut the web & make a cute border out of it!

Your a lucky fella, those RAK's are awesome! Thanks for sharing Curt!

Hugs Rita

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to Toni...

Love the colours in your butterfly card - black and turquoise are way cool.

The web edge is beautiful, the finish and the cut are amazing.

Love the photo, what fine detail you capture with your camera, you should be holding master classes....along with your video tutorials...any thoughts on that? LOL

Thanks for your help with the spacing on blogger, will put it into practice on my next post.

Love ya x

Joan Fricker said...

Curt, Great cards and so creative. Your colors are wonderful too!

Joan

Jamie Martin said...

Your cards are wonderful like always. The blue butterfly card is very stunning!

Jenn Muraoka said...

Gosh, I haven't been here for such a long time. So sorry. Life has just gotten in the way of Blurfin'. You've been so busy Curt! Which reminds me I have to mail out your card...sorry. I've just been so busy. But what great Halloween cards! I also love the new look of the blog. Just gorgeous. BTW, did you get a chance to look at Trav's slide show at YouTube? I need to take it down as soon as you look at it. Just drop me a line when you get a chance to watch it. Hugs, Jenn

Deborah said...

Way to go Toni!
Your cards are way cool Curt! Love how your cut the spider webs at the bottom of the card! Your pictures are fab too! What fancy smamchie camera do you use? Have a good weekend! Deb

Anonymous said...

Very nice, Curt! LOVE the sparkly spider webs! Halloween cards are just so fun, aren't they?

Thanks for visiting my blogs! I'm glad that you like my cards, as well as my writing. I love reading your responses to my blogs, so I hope that you continue to comment!

I'm so sorry about your partner having MS. That must be so difficult for the both of you. I'm glad that your dogs comfort you. I know that my two dogs help me a lot during hard times too.

Love the cards and photos!

~ Katy Girl

Jeni Glee said...

Curt, coming here is absolutely delightful! Your creations each time are so beautiful, so, so creative and just downright splendid! I love these!

Congratulations, Toni!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Curt! I just recently stumbled onto your Blog and now I'm so totally addicted. I adore your photos and your creativity when it comes to creating your paper products. I think I'm going to ~case~ your most recent butterfly card as it gives the illusion that something is taking flight and the colours you chose makes everything **POP**.
Obviously you have many admirers with all this RAK you are finding in your mailbox lately. HUMPH Gotta figure out how I can get some too [smile].
Keep on creating and ensure to post as I enjoy hearing all the News in your life =)

Unknown said...

You have been tagged on my blog!

Jodi said...

These are terrific cards Curt! You are also a very lucky guy to get all those RAKs!! =)