Curt's Best Shots Slideshow

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

WEDNESDAY EVENING POST - JUNE 9, 2010

Hey All!  Happy Hump Day!  It's Wednesday and time for another Wednesday Evening Post.  I have a couple of cards to share with you tonight, along with the ANNOUNCEMENT of my upcoming BIRTHDAY BLOG CANDY!!!  So read on for all the details:

My first card is an original design born out of trying something that I'm not good at.  That would be called a "NO LAYER CARD".  Well, I thought I would go out of my comfort zone and try one.  Well. . . . . . .I have to tell you I had to cheat!  LOL  I couldn't help it.  I just didn't know what to do with the sentiment so I had to pop it up.  Here it is:


See what I mean????  There was no room on the card to put it.  Besides that, it was computer generated so what the heck!  The tree is a huge background stamp from Hero Arts.  I stamped it directly onto Gina K. Designs Pure Luxury 120# card stock with forest green Staz-on ink.  I then went over parts of the main trunk and some branches with a dark brown Sharpie.  I used a MS punch for the little birds, punching each from a different colored scrap piece of card stock.  I really like how this turned out.  With the birds being just a punched out little blob, I had to draw beaks and eyes on them to make them look a little more like birds.

My second card is a case of a card I recently saw on Splitcoast.  I cased this card:  Here is my version:


I believe I followed the "rules of casing" by changing at least three things about the card.  My first change is the orientation of the card from vertical to horizontal.  I changed the colors from yellows and oranges to greens and whites, and I gave each leaf a pattern.  I really do like this card and its theme can be used for so many things.  The leaves are actually the "negative" of the punch.  Once I punched the leaves out, I cut the negative into squares and then mounted the square onto the patterned paper.  I like the effect it gives.  The scalloped bottoms are done with an EK Success border punch.  The sentiment is from a set that I have no idea who makes it.

OK, now for an announcement for my upcoming blog candy.  I will start the blog candy on next Wednesday's Evening Post.  I'm NOT going to make you jump through hoops to win it either.  This is in celebration of my birthday this month and the fact that my blog turned 2 a couple of months ago and I missed it!  So I'm combining both celebrations!  So be sure that you come back on June 16th to enter.  I'll be drawing a winner on my birthday, which is JUNE 19TH!  So no long wait.  It is going to be a really nice prize pack too!

OK, that's it.  Thanks so much for coming by.  I love that you visit me, and I can't wait to see what you have all been up to.  I hope you are all well and having a wonderful week!  Don't forget the "Pic of the Week".  It is updated with every Wednesday Evening Post.

Hugs to all of you!


Best,


Curt O'Brien


"God, please help me be the person that my dogs think I am."

26 comments:

Serendipity Stamping said...

What a lovely looking tree and all the colorful birds! Love it. The second card is one I think I may give a go. Have to look for my punches, AFTER I find my nesties. I swear I am not moving again until the final move. No matter what I need or just saw, it hides. Oh well there are worse things in life. Have a great week and looking forward to your candy.

Kimberly S said...

Love them both with their nature themes! I think the first is so fun with that gorgeous tree stamp and the birds. The second is simply gorgeous with the patterned paper to show off the punched leaves! :)

Patti J said...

Where to start??? LOVE both of your cards! Those little birds are so stinkin' cute :) And I think the DP behind your leaves is perfect! Both cards are wonderful, as always! Your picture of the week is just beautiful! You must live in a very 'parky' area - you always have such lovely photo's! (oh...except the snake one - your poor momma!) Hope you and Jay are doing well. Hug 'the boys' for me!!!

Jean McKenzie said...

Curt, I too have trouble with one layer cards but heavens you did well with this one! It is very bright and cheery and the second card is very pretty - I love any cards with nature themes! Gorgeous pic of the week too - such pretty leaves and the photo is so clear that I can see the fine hairs on the leaves!

Shirley-Anne said...

Thank you for comments on my blog , they really do mean a lot , coming from someone so artistic.
Well done with the birds , very arty! Love the big tree tho. Great tip from second card with using the negatives from punched leaves .
Both cards were worth the visit so thanks for sharing .
Cant wait for the " candy" posting.

Sue said...

Hi Curt
i luv your tree card its very striking, great sentiment to go with it, very pretty leaf card, very clean n crisp, have good day hun, sue,x

Tertia said...

I absolutely love that tree card! I think I may just have to try making one of those too.
Please let me have your address and I will send you a card by snailmail for your birthday. It may not make it there on time - African post you know - but we can try! Send me a mail at tertiaj at telkomsa dot net.

Suzi Mac said...

Hi Curt,

These are two stunning cards, I love the stamped one with the tree, but I do agree with you the sentiment wouldn't look good without mounting.
Your second case card is delightful. I love the clean lines and those leaves are fab. I may have a try at this type of design. Thanks for sharing.
Hugs
Suzi x

Diane said...

Very cool cards!!! Love what you did with that MS punch....such a bright and cheerful card!!! The second card is beautiful too...a neat and fun one "to case of a case"...LOL.....Looks like you are back on track...yeah....

Celeste said...

I love them both! I've gotta try that technique.

Gina Wrona said...

OMG, your cards are fabulous!

Love them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry I haven't visited lately, but those 13 puppies have been keeping me busy.

Hugs,
Gina

Jackie said...

I think you did a great job with the "no layer" thing - that's a tough one for me, too. Those birds are adorable in the tree branches. The trio of punches is wonderful - what a great idea. I always throw away that part but now I will have to find a place to keep those bits. And Happy Birthday in advance!

Dawnll said...

That tree is wonderful with the colorful birds, I would have had a hard time keeping to one layer also. I love to piece.
Your second card was a great casing, I love using negative shapes on projects.
Fun birthday candy sounds like a good time and I will be back again.
Your pics of the week are always just wonderful, I wish I had that skill.

Stacie (craft-princess) said...

Great cards!! I think I would of had to cheat on the first one too! HEHE! The tree is so colorful...love it! And the second card I really like the design behind the leaf punches...will have to try that sometime!
Happy (early) Birthday and congrats on 2 years of bloggin! :)
-Stacie

Jessie said...

I love both of your cards Curt, they are adorable!

Sue from Oregon said...

Lovely cards...but still chuckling about your description of your martha bird punch LOL! We must be tweedle dee and tweedle dum...I still have my 2 year blog candy sitting on my desk! I am such a late lizzy......

Keep It Sweet and Simple said...

Wow! Gorgeous cards. I love how you added those little birds in all different colours. They turned an ordinary stamp into something beautiful.
I don't think I have ever used a punch 'negative', but your leaves have certainly made me want to try it out. They look awesome.
Oh, and I have to mention Gunther - his moonwalking is brilliant. Love him.
Caroline xxx

Becky said...

I love these..The little birdie told me is just fresh and colorful. The second one is so warm and lovely, love the different patterns. I see I am in time for the celebrations..:)
I just received my mug, it was gorgeous and so wasn't that card, you know I had to put it up on my blog, :), I will drink from it tomorrow .

Judy said...

Both cards are just great. Looking forward to seeing your birthday blog candy.

Curt, the two videos of Gunther are priceless. I just had to call my hubby in to watch them with me. We had a good chuckle over them

Anonymous said...

Curt, just returned from a roadtrip with the final four hours of eye wrenching gazing into darkness or headlights searching for deer to pop from tall grass along narrow roadways. Site seeing on the net is my relaxation for a half hour. Had to stop by your blog to see what's happening. Have a grand two year blog a birthday celebration. Fun!
Keep Looking UP!

Anonymous said...

Curt, went by the third cousin's place in Win...WA where House Mouse has been king for years. Well, wouldn't you know she was painting the most sensitively gorgeous violets inside black embossed ridges!
Yes, House Mouse was observing the paint dry! What a process she blesses each card with prayer for the receiver as she carefully brushes color into the life of each card. Had to bring you up to date on that front as I had hoped so strongly to see her this trip.
Keep Looking Up!

Sharli Schaitberger said...

Hi Curt! Both cards are awesome! I didn't know the rule about casing - I hope I haven't been doing it all wrong!!! Yikes.

Your tree card is wonderful - I love all the pretty color birdies! The one you cased is very inspiring - - - I have that punch and it doesn't get enough of a workout! Thanks for the idea!

Hugs!

Deb Neerman said...

Love 'em both, Curt! It's so true: those OLC's are harder than they look, huh?!?

I adore the CASE'd card ... what a great look with the punch-outs!!

Hope all is well with you and 'Boys!' Sending hugs!

Lisa Summerhays said...

Fantastic cards! Just stumbled upon your site and I'm loving what I see. :)

Janine said...

How ya doing there Curt?? Great cards... Love the punched one!!
Have a great week!!

Helen F. said...

Both of these cards are so creative! I love the huge tree and the made-to-look-like-birds punches :o) So cute!
The second card is lovely, really like the large punched out leaves...and I never think of using my square punch in this clever way.