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:
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."
54 comments:
Curt, your Zindorf inspired card is stunning! Great job! I love your other cards, too, and don't see a single thing wrong with your last card - I think it looks great. you are too hard on yourself, dude.
Wow, Curt! If Mark writes that well with a wounded hand, I'd love to see his writing when his hand isn't! And I love his little origami stars but they look a bit difficult and tedious to make; I've never been good at origami as much as I admire it.
Curt, of course, your cards are amazing! But I think my fav is your "CWTGITW"... LOL!!!
Hugs, my friend!
Thanbks for the inspiration Curt, Love how you did the leather look, they will work great for leather on my "travel suitcase" cards.
Warm wishes, hope your spring arrives soon.
Well how fabulous to receive such a wonderful package from Mark! You did an incredible job with this card.
Loving all those gorgeous flowers. I am with you, no snow, snowman...
I just love this third one you did, it is stunning.
Well have a fabulously creative week.
Glad to know I am not the only one with a true hate of this weather! Oh my goodness please can we have some sunshine?
As usual I can pop in and see so many great ideas and new to me techniques.
You are an adventurous crafter- I really need to take that cue.
I love the second card so much because the colors are so wonderful.
Hope your all doing well- big hugz to you and the boys
Hi ya Curt
aww what a lovely gift to send you, i LUV ya horse card it is totally stunning, the shadows look fantastic, lovely spring card can't wait for me garden to look like that!!! Now as for ya card you dont like, i thinks its lovely, very pretty & delicate.
Hugs, sue,x
What a cool card...love the reflection...beautiful...what a great "friend" to send a surprise like that!! Easter card is pretty and Spring like and we sure do need that...love the coloring as always, and now need to color more myself...see how you inspire...the card you don't like...it is beautiful...really I LOVE it...you are too hard on yourself...its great!! Now my only thing left to say is the boys...where oh where are their St Patty's day kerchef's...hahhah.......see you later!!
Your colouring is just so perfect Curt and is so evident in your tulip card.
As for your western card ... I can't believe what an incredible job you have done with every single detail.
And I actually like your CWTGIOW card!
Curt,
What a great surprise! I do love how Mark wrote you name that is the first thing that caught my eye. What fun little stars too.
The card is Super, Great Zindorf style. What a beautiful sunset, are you a cowboy at heart?
As for the other cards Great coloring of the flowers they just pop. Pretty colors on the last card. Have a great day.
Hey Curt! Don't you just LOVE happy mail? What fun! Love the box and stars as much as the stamps! Your cards are great! Love the horses, and you are right - that horse trio would have looked like something was missing if you'd used it alone. Great choice for Mark to send you! The flowers look SO pretty! I'm ready for spring. It's COLD and damp again today, and DREARY and dismal and gray! Your last card looks just fine to me, but we ARE our own worst critics! If I'm not happy with my cards, ain't nobody happy! Okay, dear friend, off to the vet with my furball - she's having some surgery today. Sigh...hate doing that sort of thing - I'll cry like a baby! Have a great day - talk to you soon!
Zindorf move over!!! OMG what an awesome card and love love love all the detail. My BFF Patti J took a Zindorf class last year in St. Louis but...I'm thinking yours is right up there friend. And spring - I think it has forgotten where the midwest is - we should be having some warmer sunshine days but...not yet. If you get sun send some back to the west!!! Great spring cards - if no sunshine at least brings a smile.
Curt, I love your Spring card and I agree. Although I'm in sunny California, I want warmer weather and new leaves on the tree! :)
But bud... check out your blog background! ;) Make it Springy for us faithful readers! ;)
Hope all's well with you four. :)
WOW! So COOL! I like your Texas friend's work and blog and his handwriting is wonderful!
And of course.....I am so luvin' your tulip card and the horsey card! B E A U T I F U L! And as for the one you don't think turned out so well.....so very pretty Curt! I wish I could do stuff like that! WOW!
Love your happy upbeat posts! HUGS!
I've been lurking around your blog for awhile now and just had to comment on your western card. It is jaw dropping awesome!! Your spring cards are beautiful as well.
You are amazing again this week! I love all 3 cards you made & didn't even notice the last card was made with a reverse image stamp until I clicked on the picture to get a closer look after reading about it. The first card with the horses is incredible. Your attention to detail always amazes me. I love the Easter card too. Thanks for inspiring us all week after week!
hi curt - glad you found some use for the stamps! great cards - and i can't wait to try that acetate trick! who comes up with this stuff and why isn't it me?!
Wow, just found your site and can not wait to get back home this evening and delve into your older posts. I am loving all of your cards, they are making it very hard for me to sign off and get ready for work. Hmm, wonder if the kiddos would mind teaching themselves today. I feel the need to be artfully creative, hmm wonder if they would like to be artfully creative today. I bet they would! Bye for now I'm off to the world of first graders.
More gorgeous inspiration from you Curt!! I have to say that the horse over the sunset is my FAV by far!! Gorgeous use of colors, but I also love the other two with the papers and embossing!! Wonderful job my friend!! HUGS
Curt
Your western card is just stunning. Not only would you see that site in Texas but you would see it in Alberta where I live.
Love your spring colors.
Your last card is lovely too and it will make great note cards.
Hang in there dear friend, spring really is on its way. (I think) lol
Thanks for popping in and leaving such encouraging comments.
Myrna
Hi Curt, I hope your well, All the cards are beautiful, my favorite has to be the horses in the sunset, its fabulous.your CWTGIOW card I love the colours you used, it is beautiful.
Kevin
Those little stars are so cute. I think you should twist his arm and let him show us how he makes them.
Love the reverse stamped card! Don't know why you don't like it. I know you guys are looking forward to spring, but that means its Autumn (Fall) here in South Africa and I am really not looking forward to Winter. I am so not a person for cold weather.
Have a great week. By the way, how's Jay's new meds working out?
Oh Curt! Reading your blog is one of the highlights of my week. It has become like a visit with a friend. Your cards are wonderful (and I love the package you received - must have given you such a boost). The western card is stunning - I love the mirror image and the faux leather! Your spring cards give such hope of the coming season. Love the sweetness of the tulips. And I love your embossed reverse image - not sure why you don't! I hope that your week is going well.
fabulous cards Curt ,, the fist one is absolutely stunning and the way you made the shadows is brilliant !! :-) What a lovely parcel too ,, very thoughtful :-)
I LOVE your hero arts card too ,,, beautiful !! you are way too hard on yourself !! :-)
luv
Lols x x x
G'Day to you, Curt, from thaw country eastern Rocky Mountains front. Wind has been howling after thirty hours of breeze and temps trying their best to reach fifty degrees F. A sunset richly gorgeous as is your card's sunset really may be in the offing (Less skinny snow cloud formations) as wind may bring puffy cumulus clouds of spring. We do spring forward Saturday night.
What a springy DeadbeatDesigns box totally dancing stars in your eyes!
Now a starry moonlite night is something to see in weeks and weeks of cloudy - partly meatballs turned into sleet, icy crystaline particles frosting four or five mornings' snowpacked and icy surfaces- now mudballs have edged to the front of the line coloring everything in sight solid splash gumbo tan.
About cards, Easter cards,Lynne at children's hospice in UK would like kid Easter cards (mamabear Stonich <chadsgirl510@yahoodotcom will receive them at her addy then bundle them for UK if crafters would like to mail USA only). Buds and blossoms ring springy anytime. Easter will be quite the celebration this year with all the economic and trade commotion. Will be wonderful if we may enjoy another sunrise/ set like your card infers.. .. ..peaceful, thankful, counting blessings.
We watched two ravens diving and grabbing at each other; but oddly, they were not aiming for each other, just the meal one wanted from the other's mouth during wind the first hours of this regional melt revealing fresh earth. There's a spring strong action card! The swoops and crossfire turns were such a timed sky dance beauty. 'Dinner' probably was air sick if it wasn't lost in the sky dance.
Rivers of water are coursing down streets and highways headed for the lowest point near the riverbank. If it stays this warm until school is out, curious boys and girls should float things and splash things; there's another card. No more snowflakes, snowmen, icy-snowscapes for three more seasons. Well, maybe where you are. Easter is coming, major moisture determined to arrive then is setting up a huge weather front some place. Cloud formations, another card! I'll go clear another closet. Thanks for your great blog entries, Curt.
Keep Looking UP!
Hello, I was sad when I did not get an alert to tell me your blog was updated, not sure what is up with that... But I am quite happy that I found you here tonight : )
the card with the horses is breath taking...perfect in every way...your extra abilities to add to your cards sets them in a superior realm... Wow !
the Spring card is so nice, love the coloring...At first I was going to ask for a couple of imahges of the tulips, but I could never color them that well, so why?? lol
Not sure what you do not like about your last card...in my opinion, it may not be your typical "good stuff" but it is still fine ! yes a note set would be a great gift !
I hope to play and get some thing new up on my blog tomorrow...busy busy here... : (
thanks for sharing...cannot wait to see what you have next week... !
Stopping in at your Blog is my Thursday morning gift to my self !...
Have a fabulous week !
Wowwwwwwwww, Curt....your colors in that Zindorf card are AMAZING!! So is your coloring on the potted flowers!
Wow, Curt - love, love, love your horses at sunset card! Brayering is gorgeous!
Had a giggle at your CWTGIOW card, but I think it turned out great!
All of those cards are very nice! Great job with the western theme and the other two with flowers are so pretty! Love them all! You are quite the artist!
Hi, Curt! I love your Zindorf card. You did an excellent job using your new western stamps! And your two floral cards are fabulous, too! Excellent choice of colors!
Love that Zindorf inspired card - the reflections are so cool. Don't see what is wrong with your third card - its very pretty. The tulips are great also. Tulips means Spring to me as well, but I am only just getting my bulbs ready for planting, as they will not be flowering until September at the earliest, probably more October November. They come up and get blown to pieces by the October/November winds! However, today has been quite a nice day and we are heading into a long weekend (Labour day) with the temp at around 23 for the three days and only a few showers predicted. Yeah - time to craft! Hope you and the dogs are fit and well!
Wow, what a wonderful gift to receive. The card you've made using the horse stamps is absolutely just the best thing. I love it. Great looking leather embellishments too.
The tulips are such lovely colours and I do like your Hero Arts card. Nothing wrong with it.
Curt, my favorite is the last card - your worst nightmare!! I love the colours and the simple construction of the card. It makes the most of the image, which was beautifully coloured! Want to part with the stamp??? lol
Hugz
Moz
Hi Curt . Thanks for visits to my blog and your kind comments .
Another interesting post from you . Love the spring Easter card your colouring of flowers is awesome . But the Horse card with reflections is simply amazing . great tip thank you .
OMG...Curt..sitting here sipping my morning tea and LOVING the horses card...INCREDIBLY GORGEOUS...WOW..
hi Curt.Hope all well with you.I love the stamps you received,and those lovely origami stars,i thought they were wrapped chocs LOL.As always your creations are just AMAZING.i love them all.Hugs to all.xx
Wow... wasn't that kind of Mark to send you a parcel!!...... what beautiful writing as well, Loving your cards, I think the last one would make a lovely gift as a notelet set,,,,take care
Thanks for stopping by my blog
Tilly x
Wowsers!
Aren't you lucky!
Great card and advertising for that Deadbeat Designer!
(Yes I loved his 6 tags of Texas!)
The origami stars are too cute!
Love the other 2 cards as well, I think you're your own worst critic!
What the heck happened to the pic of the week?!
I am sooo tired of winter also!
It's still in the -20C here! Supposed to warm up this weekend!
Stunning cards, Curt. The horse card is my favourite. That handwriting on the parcel - for sure a masterpiece!
Warm wishes,
Amelia
I've been so glad you sent us over to Deadbeat Designs a while back - really enjoy his humor and designs.
All of your cards today are wonderful - you always do such a good job. Thanks for the inspiration. Blessings
Hi Curt,
How very sweet of your friend, Mark, to send you such a thoughtful package. The little stars are so cute. That horse & rider stamp is absolutely perfect for your three horse image. Fab brayer card. I've heard of the acetate 'trick' but haven't tried it. Love the 'leather' detail you created. Both of your flower cards are pretty, but I'm partial to the row of flower pots. Beautiful coloring. Enjoy the weekend.
WOW! Love your Zindorfesque card! The straps really look like leather! Again, I will say...you are too hard on yourself! I love your hummingbird card! It is gorgeous, why don't you like it? I love the one with the tulips too. YOur coloring is so awesome, as usual. Our snow is melting after getting 21 inches on Mon. However, we are having flooding. I won't complain out of respect for the folks in Japan and our country. May God bless them and keep them safe. Have a great week Curt.
WOW! That first card is super impressive!! I wish I had a fraction of your talent!! Did you brayer the background or sponge it on? I don't see any lines and it just looks perfect! I am trying to learn to brayer AND sponge better but I feel like I am failing miserably. Guess practice makes perfect! :)
I agree fully about the weather....blah....I am over it! BRING ON THE WARM WEATHER PLEASE!!!
Your last two cards are very cheery and I like the colors and designs. You should be happy with the reverse image card....I think it turned out great!
By the way....Jeanne thought your card was wonderful and she really loved your handwriting! :)
Have a great weekend!
-Stacie
Wow Curt, those cards are awesome and the tulips, love the tulip card. Spring is definately in the air around here, halleluia! Lovely gift from Mark!
Your horse card looks just like a Zindorf!!!
Now that I'm a cowgirl I naturally love your horse card. Beautiful shadowy effect. Also love humming birds so that is beautious. Pat
What a sweet man you are, and very talented as welL!! I am in awe of your cowboy scene. I was wondering how in the world did he make those shadows/reflections and then you told us. Thanks for sharing! Your other SPRING cards are fabby too! I'm now a follower of your blog. THanks so much for stopping by and commenting on my kleenex holder! Have a great weekend.
Curt, I am so happy you have all those wonderful friends - you deserve each and every one of them! I love all of your cards - the horses one is wonderful - just perfect with the finishing touches! The tulips card is just my sort - love flowers and you have shaded them so beautifully. The last card is very very pretty. Who wouldn't love to receive this in the mail!
Hope Jay and the boys are well!
Hugs, Jean
Curt, I am so sorry...I stopped by the other day and "meant" to post a comment but didn't so that's why I am back! Haha! What an awesome gift from Mark and you really put together a wonderful creation to showcase those fun stamps. Wonderful color and texture! Just beautiful!
Speaking of color, your tulip card is gorgeous! Tulips are my second favorite flower...after the Gerber daisy. Stunning cards with a spring vibe! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. Big hugs to you, Jay and the Schnauzers. :)
Aloha my friend! I can't believe how long it's been... time sure flies!! I wanted to stop in and wow!! You have been extremely busy creating all of these beautiful cards, each one with a special technique! You are so creative Curt! I hope you are doing well too!
Big Hugs!
Jodi =)
When I saw the first card I thought ...... he is like in grad school and I am in pre K :) Good lord almighty ..... that card is I just do not know what to say other then LOVE IT!!! Of course the other 2 cards are amazing also but the first card really had me the moment I saw it!!! I love that you got happy mail and of course you would because you are a total gem!!!
Have a great week Curt!!!
Nice work! As usual you have a way w/ your cards and your writing. BTW, I have awarded you a Stylish Blogger Award, stop by my blog @ loveleighscraps.blogspot.com to grab the information. Have a wonderful day!
I see your name often in the comments on Mark's blog, so I came to check out your blog and I am so glad I did! Your cards are awesome. I love the cowboy one. Such wonderful coloring and the idea to make the faux leather is wonderful. I am not sure why you don't like the Hero Arts one ... I think it is quite pretty. I will be adding your blog to my reader, so I won't miss your posts!
Curt I love the horses card, and the tulip one too, but honestly I love the last one more....sorry, but I think you did an amazing job embossing and coloring that card! I really love it!!! (sorry.... :) ) Thanks for sharing!
What a super nice thing for Mark to do. I love the Southwestern/Cowboy style one. The colors are incredible. That scene, pure GORGEOUSNESS!!! The Lovely Easter card is colored beautifully. The last is so pretty! Great work my friend.! :)
Hi Curt, This is my first visit to your blog and I keep turning pages. I love your art and these cards are just fabulous! Thank you for sharing your awesome talent with us :) Jan
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