THE WEDNESDAY EVENING POST FOR MARCH 30, 2011

Hey All!

Happy Hump Day to each and every one of you!  I'm so happy to see you and I love our visits here on Wednesday night.  I really don't have much special to show tonight however.  Just run of the mill cards, with a few little tricks to share.  So let's get started. . .

I did add a new feature to my blog RIGHT OVER THERE AT THE RIGHT SIDE BAR ----->  I've decided that I would like to know more about us collectively.  So I am going to have a reader poll with a new question each week.  The questions are things that I wonder about and I'd like to get a feel for what you think about these things as well.  So won't you take 5 seconds and cast your vote?  Thanks!

Here is my first card to share:

 The special part about this card is that the skirt is made out of a COFFEE FILTER!  

 Take a look at this view:

When I was at my neighbor friend Nina's house learning how to make flowers out of fabric, she showed me a card she had made with a dress made out of a coffee filter.  She had it hanging on a little hanger, and I thought it was so creative.  So I came home and came up with my version.  I cut out the top by hand, and then cut the coffee filter in half and did a 3 fold on it.  I then took a background stamp with black dots and stamped the dots on the skirt.  Added a bow done with my Bow Easy, mounted the dress on a Nestie oval ran through the CB and done.  Sentiment is computer generated.  I did a search on SCS to see if anyone else had done a dress/skirt out of a coffee filter and didn't find one.  So, great idea Nina!  

My next card:

A card for Spring.  The technique I used on this was the cutting out part of the image before cutting it with an oval die in the CB so that it comes right out of the die cut.  So easy to do, and it makes a big difference on a card.  I colored the image with colored pencils and oms.

Last card is my least favorite.  I hate it when cards don't turn out like I think they should. . .

It just doesn't do anything for me.  And the thing that is so disappointing is that it was a lot of work.  The left and right flower was stamped twice and painstakingly cut out and popped up with dimensional tape.  I just thought it would look a little more dramatic, but it looks like the poppies are on their last legs. . .LOL  Oh well, sometimes these things don't come out like we want them to.  The stamp set is called Poppies from Flourishes.

Lastly, I have to share a gift I received from my wonderful blogging buddy Karen from 1 Wacky Woman.  She is awesomely talented, especially when it comes to coloring images (her book is in my sidebar) and card style.  Here is what she made for me!

 And matching card:

The card front is actually quilted cloth!  Here is how this little quilted caddy cover works.


Take a cup:

Wrap the cup with the quilted organizer and secure it with the Velcro straps:

Then fold in the top half into the cup so that it looks like this:

Then fill all the little pockets with your most used items! :

It's so nice to have the stuff on the outside pockets so you don't have to dig through pencils and markers to get your special pens or small scissors.  I LOVE this Karen and it is sitting prominently on my work desk.  The quality of this is AMAZING.  The stitching is beautiful!!!  I'm so proud to own this!  I really can't thank you enough.

Finally, the "Pic of the Week":

THINK SPRING!!!!

OK, that's it for another edition!  Thanks so much for coming by.  Don't forget to vote in the poll!


Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week and a fab weekend.  Take care of yourselves and I'll see you soon!


Best,


Curt O'Brien


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

THE WEDNESDAY EVENING POST FOR MARCH 23, 2011

Hey All!

How the heck are ya???  HAPPY SPRING!  We are having the most bizarre weather here (but typical for Indiana).  Today it got to 73 but in the morning we are supposed to be in the 20s!  Is that nuts or what???


Today's post is reflecting the new Spring season.  How do you like those cute flowers that popped up in my yard up there???  LOL  God love 'em.  They do anything to please me (but they are paid well in treats, I assure you).  On with the post!


First Card:

When I saw this stamp set, this card was in my head.  It really went together quickly.  I drew the clouds freehand on "sticky paper" then cut them out.  I peeled off the backing and sprinkled them with diamond glitter.  Can't see it in the pic that well, but they are sparkly.  What you also can't see is the yellow in the balloon is also very sparkly.  I used a glitter gel pen to color those areas.  After some very fussy cutting, I popped up the balloon and clouds with foam squares.  The green hills I cut out freehand as well, and the sky was sponged with distress ink (faded jeans).  Sentiment is from the same stamp set from Inkadinkado.

Next is my second Easter card.  Here it is:

It's kind of goofy, but I made this for Jay's great nephew's (young kids).  It is all made with punches.  I actually stole cased this idea from something I saw on SCS.  You can see what I cased HERE.  However, I did make tons of changes.  Changed the scene completely adding flowers and a fence, etc.  Bet you will NEVER guess what I made their little feet out of. . .a MS Halloween bat punch!  LOL  Their little feet are part of the bat's wing.  That's what I call "winging it"!  (GROAN)  Literally, everything on this card is punched.

Last thing to share with you tonight is this 3-D project for Easter:

This is a box I found while surfing You Tube.  I love the idea of this and when I saw it I knew it would be great for Easter or Halloween.  Since I didn't see it for Halloween, Easter it is. . .Are you ready for the inside????

I just love this box, and it is a piece of cake to make.  If you are interested, you'll find the video tutorial HERE.  I stamped the outside of the box with a $1 stamp I found at Mike's.  Love the rabbit silhouette (stamped in four different pastel colors).  I don't know who the paper is by that I used on the inside.  I'm going to put a little Easter grass in each box to enhance the presentation, but I didn't have any for tonight's pics.

HERE IS THE PIC OF THE WEEK:

I took this picture this afternoon.  This was the largest, brightest rainbow I had ever seen.  It had not even rained in our neighborhood, but you can see that it is raining behind the rainbow.  If you look really close to the left above the white house, you can see a second faint rainbow.  I was standing in my driveway when I took this today.  We even had tornado warnings this evening.  I have a feeling we are in for some rough weather this Spring.

OK, that wraps it up for another Wednesday Evening Post.  Welcome to all of my new subscribers.  I love that you think enough of my blog to subscribe.  I'm honored.  For the rest of you wonderful, fabulous, amazingly talented, super sweet, regulars of mine, I'm behind on my blog visiting (as usual).  I'm trying to stay ahead of all the things that need to be done around the house and with the care of Jay and the boys.  I feel like I've neglected some things so I've tried to get started on some Spring cleaning etc.  But I will be by in the next few days.  I've missed you and can't wait to see what you've been up to!

Hugs to all of you!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  You guys are the very best!  BTW  HEY SONJA!!!!!  Please email me!!!!  Would you please????  curt.obrien@gmail.com


Love you guys!


Best,


Curt O'Brien


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

THE WEDNESDAY EVENING POST FOR MARCH 16, 2011

Hey All!

Top 'o the day to ya!  For those of you who are visiting on St. Pat's Day . . .HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY to ya don't ya know!  For those who aren't and the day is over, may good luck be with ya!  Sorry I'm so late with this post, but some ornery little leprechauns were playing some dirty little tricks with me blogger. . .I was getting to the point of wanting to stick a pot of gold up their little . . .Oh, sorry!  I got a little carried away with me self!  LOL  On with the post then lads and lassies. . .

Since it is after 1:00 AM here, it is technically St. Patrick's Day, so I'll start with a St. Pat's card which I am entering into Ted's challenge (HERE) which is to use the colors of the national flag of Ireland.  Here is my card:

I don't know if Ted will disqualify me for this, but I think he said we needed to also use a shamrock.  I believe these are clovers, but what the heck. . .I say close enough.  And if you disqualify me TED, I'll have to hit you upside the head with my sheleighly!  And don't ya think I won't be a doin it either!  This is a House Mouse image colored with my colored pencils and oms.

Next is a get well card for a friend of my blogging friend Patti at Cherish Each Precious Day.  Patti asked me to give a shout out for her regarding cards being made for this poor woman.  She sounds like a very sweet wonderful person going through some rough times, so I wanted to help.  Here is the card:

This poor woman broke her femur (OUCH) and has so many complications.  I knew what stamp I was going to use the minute I read her story HERE.  So if you'd like to send this dear lady a smile, won't you hop over to Patti's and get the scoop?  Thanks!  This card is on its way Patti!


My last thing to share is a 3-D project.  I saw this on Splitcoast and just went crazy over it.  I think it is the cutest idea and I had to give it a try.  Take a look:

It's a box/card that holds one of those travel size tissue packets.  Yes, another House Mouse image (one of my favs - I LOVE that baby bunny)  The image is colored with colored pencils and oms as well.  Here is kind of a side view:

For the deets on how to make this clever creation you can go HERE. 


Well that does it for another Wednesday Evening Post.  I hope you've enjoyed it.  I'm so glad that you stopped by and I hope I made it worth your while.  And in honor of the day, let me leave you with an old Irish blessing:

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

may God hold you in the hollow of His hands.

I hope you are all well and happy.  Please keep the people of Japan in your thoughts and prayers.


Love you guys!


Best,


Curt O'Brien


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

THE WEDNESDAY EVENING POST FOR MARCH 9, 2011

Hey All!

Hope this post finds you happy, safe, and dry.  We certainly have had some weird weather across the country, and I always worry about all of you and hope that you are OK.

Sorry I'm a little late tonight. . .but I had some unexpected happy mail today, and I just had to use it for tonight's post.  My good blogging buddy Mark at Deadbeat Designs took pity on me from my last post where I said "I don't have any Southwest themed stamps".  Well Mark sent me a gift of some:  Take a look:

I took a picture of the box because I was so impressed with how he did my name.  How cool is that?  And this from a guy who has a broken hand!  I just loved this.  Now, here is what was inside:

How fun!  I was so surprised and excited.  See those fun little stars???  He makes those!  They are origami stars and I think they are the coolest.  Here is a close up:

OK, so see the horse and rider stamp?  Here is the card that it inspired:

Another Zindorf inspired card.  I had this stamp of the 3 horses forever, and had always planned to use it for this type of card, but always felt I needed something else in the scene.  When I saw the horse and rider stamp that Mark sent me, I immediately thought of using it this way.  I made the "leather" straps by running a strip of dark brown paper through the "bubbles" Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I then covered it with Versamark ink, and sprinkled clear ep on it.  Heat set it, then repeated the process one more time.  It really gives a cool leather look.  I then added the brass brads.  Made the corners too the same way (hard to see in the picture).  I created the horses' shadows by stamping the horse image on acetate, then flipping it and rubbing it onto the card.  really works great!  Thanks again Mark!  It was really thoughtful of you.  Did any of you see Mark's "Six Tags of Texas"?  He did an incredible job with them.  Go take a look HERE.  

OK, so Spring is less than two weeks away!  OMGosh I can't wait to get rid of this crappy, snowy, cold, miserable, nasty (SLAP) OH, sorry weather!!!  I'm now in SPRING MODE and will make NO MORE CARDS WITH SNOW, FLAKES, SNOWMEN, ETC.!  Here is my first Spring card:

This is a Northwoods stamp and I love it!  Tulips to me always represent Spring and Easter.  I colored the image with my colored pencils and oms.  Punched out the butterfly and sprinkled it with two different colors of MS glitter (can't tell in the pic but it is turquoise and green).  This was the ONLY "Happy Easter" stamp I have, but it worked.  The paper is by Creative Memories.

My last card is one of those that I call a CWTGIOW card (Can't Wait to Get it Over With)!  LOL

OMG!  I love the reverse image stamp (by Hero Arts), but no matter what I did with it after finishing it, I didn't like anything I did.  The image is a reverse image so I stamped it on water color paper with Versamark, embossed it with white ep, then used an aqua painter and distress inks to color the images.  So, anyway, this is what I came up with.  Not happy with it at all.  I have three others like this, so I'm going to try to create a note card set with them.  Hopefully I'll have better luck!  

That's it!  Thanks for stopping by. . .I'm afraid I've been behind again getting to all of you, but I'll be back at it starting in the morning with my first cup of coffee!  I always love to see what you've done over the past week.

A big thank you to all of you who went over and left Cheryl some kind words regarding the loss of her sweet Ollie.  She appreciated them so much, and you all are just the sweetest!

Love you guys!


Best,


Curt O'Brien


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

THE WEDNESDAY EVENING POST FOR MARCH 2, 2011

Hey All!


There you are. . .  It's really nice to have you back!  Is that a new hair cut?  New outfit?  Whatever it is, you look incredible!  So glad you are here because I have stuff to show you!

Wow, based on the response to last week's post, you all will probably find this one a tad boring.  I had the largest response EVER in the history of my blog last week.  I had over 1,000 page views,  67 comments, and 18 new subscribers!  I'm amazed and so grateful.  Thanks so much for all the great comments from you all!  

I have added SOMETHING DIFFERENT to tonight's post.  At the bottom of the post I have posted a special video that I made just for you all. . .so be sure to check it out if you are so inclined.  On with the projects!

First, I'd like to share a card I made for a special day in Texas.  My blogging friend Mark of Deadbeat Designs informed me on his blog that today is "Texas Independence Day".  So in honor of this, I created a card for Mark:

There is not a lick of stamping on this card.  The top border, the covered wagons, and the cacti are all cut out of some fun paper I found at Mike's (Michael's).  Even the sentiment is computer generated.  OK, I know it is considered cheating in the stamping world, but I don't have any southwestern themed stamps so a crafter has to do what a crafter has to do.  Hope your day was great Mark!  This card is on its way to you!

My next card was made as a thank you.  I know you all must think that I live in the most idealistic neighborhood, but we do have lots of nice people here.  I helped a neighbor who had fallen on the ice.  I took her to the emergency room, went back to take care of her dog, went back to sit with her at the hospital, took her to get her prescriptions filled and then brought her home.  When she was feeling better, she took me to dinner and gave me a local grocery store gift card to thank me.  So to thank her for thanking me (getting kind of sickening isn't it?) I made her this card:

It is a combo card and little gift.  Here is the inside:

The front image and the scrolly stuff was embossed on white card stock with gold ep.  Then I used distress inks to rub over it all and to edge it.  I just added a pocket to hold a couple of individual packets of flavored tea.  No special card size, just a regular A2 card.  It closes fairly flat and still fits nicely into a regular envelope.  The inside flap is where I wrote my thank you note.

The last card I have to show you is yet sadly, another sympathy card.  There is a little sweet elderly couple that lives a few houses down.  I just learned that her husband died yesterday.  I don't know them well, but I wanted her to know I was sorry for her loss.  Here is the card:

I know you have all done this before. . .See where I placed the bow???  Can you guess why I selected this placement????  A BIG FAT SMUDGE!!!  LOL  Sometimes you just gotta get creative when you weren't planning on it.

OK, that's it for the cards. . .As promised, I created a short video with all of you in mind.  So many of you have grown fond of my "Boys", and always include them with your hugs sent to us.  So, I thought it would be fun to make a short video of us taking a walk and invite you along.  So, won't you join us on a leg of our walk?  If you'd like to, just click on the video below, and come along with us.  I think you'll laugh at the end.  It is about 7 minutes long, and we'd love to have you walk with us.

Thanks for joining us!  We're glad you walked with us and hope you enjoyed it!  LOL

BEFORE I LET YOU GO, CAN I ASK YOU FOR ANOTHER SMALL FAVOR???  A very sweet blogging friend of mine had to say good-bye to her beautiful fur baby yesterday.  I have cried off and on all day over this.  Cheryl has a very short, sweet tribute to her sweet Ollie and a picture of her on her blog HERE.  Won't you please go and give her some encouragement and a hug?  They went through so much with Ollie at the end.  My heart is just broken.  Thank you for going to see her.  I appreciate it and I know she will.

OK my very sweet friends.  Thanks for stopping by.  I love you guys!

Best,

Curt O'Brien

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