OH! how i love steampunk!! (2S4Y style)

hey everyone! happy thursday :D (note: i seem to be a little 'talky' today, so if you want to skip that, go to the end.)

i had the pleasure of using Kazan's sketch #56 for this card, and oh boy! was it ever PERFECT for EVERYTHING... the details just shine through with this awesome layout :D

and believe it or not, although i've been behind on the challenge side of things... haven't been creating much for sketches/ color combos/ etc, i actually made this card for the 365 Cards Day #129 - Aged Look. it's simply a match made in heaven :D

on to my card. i actually made this to giveaway in a contest... i was given some idea about what the contest was, but i was given artistic freedom in the execution. i think i've mentioned before that i LOVE it when that happens... i love that freedom to create what i think will fit :D

so, the contest is called SteamBoyz, and it's hosted by Velvet over at vvb32 reads--she's got a great book blog going on over there, and i know she's fabulous herself! now, you may be wondering how i got connected with a book blogger to create a card for a contest. the answer is simple. i'm a nerd. YES. a NERD.

you see, i have a sister, Cecelia, who is awesome, funny, but equally (if not more! [agreed Cece?]) nerdy as me. she loves to read. which isn't to say i DON'T, because i'm actually an English teacher, but she LOVES to read. like--she went to the American Library Association Conference a few weeks ago, even though she's not a librarian. well, you say, that's not all bad... and NO! it's not. but that's how nerdy WE are. :D

so--last year she began a blog shortly after i did, and started featuring recipes, anecdotes from her life, and of course, she shared her love of books, or shall i say OBSESSION with them? she introduced me to some books, and i read them, and they were awesome! really, they were, and i can recommend some to you based on your movie preferences... really. it's what i do for my students at school. anyway, she fell pretty hard into the book blogger stratosphere, and i have to say, if i'm being honest, that i'm a little jealous at her instant popularity. i mean, there has to be a little rivalry for us to be normal siblings, eh?

at any rate, she's wildly famous and funny, while i just make cards and occasionally tag along to book events like author signings. the one author signing i went to was for a book called Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld. and it was a steampunk book. and i got to see what all the fuss was about.

i had a TON of fun. AND, i got a signed copy of the book to go in the bookshelves at school too! win WIN!

and after reading some books from the steampunk genre (Soulless by Gail Carriger as well, and probably more), i knew what my sister kept raving about. yes, she may have looked foolish to her roommates or our mother, but i at least, finally, understood.

and here i am, to present you with a card made specifically with steampunk in mind, and my sister, and Velvet, who asked me to do it :D thanks a ton girlies!

i used a lot of vintage stuff... tried to make it fit with the genre. so, there's some Graphic 45 papers on there (from the Le'romantique line) and a page torn out of an old book covering a chipboard piece. i then stamped the chipboard with a wrought iron fence stamp that i bought at a stamp convention who knows where :D and let's not forget how i shabbied everything up with either distressing with scissors, inking with Tim Holtz antique linen pad, or even using some black ink from a SU! cube. and can you see those Kaiser black pearls in the top left corner? so many details.

i also grabbed a bookplate and some brads from my stash and roughed them up with my file, and then inked them with some black Staz-on ink to give it a more 'aged' look. the crown brad comes from Queen & Co, and the buttons are vintage from my stash as well. i even layered a Hambly frame transparency to the hat/ cane panel to give some more depth.

i've seen some crafters use the 'pull back' approach with double sided paper, but i've never really given it much thought until this creation... i think it's a fabulous way to showcase both sides of the paper, and to show a little of the fanciness underneath, don't you?

now, check out the inside. because i used a clear card stock to create the card base, you can add some awesome details all over and have them show through to the front or back. in my case, i covered the OTHER side of the chipboard piece with a steampunk clock image that i got HERE before i adhered it to the front of the card. that way, when you open it up, you get more for your money :D

also, you can see from above and below, that i used some October Afternoon papers from the Thrift Store line... i know just about everyone and their mother is in love with this stuff, and i'm no exception. i mean, seriously--with so much in the steampunk genre originating from London, what other choice could i have than to use it on the inside of my card? it's PERFECT!

and also, after you're done checking out my card... if you've missed the tons of tags i've been creating, then you'd better take a look HERE, and HERE, and at yesterday's HERE. plus, i finished the rest of the tags and have a few pictures to show you...

these yellow ones were INTENSE. PTI's polka dot basics II again, some October Afternoon stamping, a flourish is there as well, along with Sassafras papers, Recollections rosebuds on top of Prima flowers inked to the perfect color. there's some 'orange peel' stickles there, a vintage orange button on all of them, and some citrine glitter from DeNami Designs. oh, and green ribbon from M's.

now these red-orange tags feature some Cosmo Cricket Early Bird papers, more Recollections rosebuds, clothespins, random buttons from my stash, 'so happy!' ribbon from SEI, and then some chipboard from DCWV that i glittered and shabbied up. oh, and some MM blooms as well.

now, for the ULTRA FUNKY orange tags. these are crazy. but, they're good crazy! more Sassy goodies, stickles, buttons, KI memories ribbon, and even those green foil stars you usually put on chore charts... hehe!

and here's one from each of the colors all grouped together. i realized that i used my Cricut to cut out 11 different colors, and they're all completely different. i LOVE that. what do you think? don't they look awesome together? :D

so all in all, i've been quite busy this week, and plan to be even more so next week. i'll be the storyteller for my church's VBA (Vacation Bible Adventure... just like VBS), and i'm head of the skit crew (and in it as well). so mornings/ afternoons will switch schedules for me a bit.

thanks so much for visiting... i'd LOVE to hear what you like most in today's post > the card? the tags? the sister envy? ha!

have a great day, and stop by later to see what i've been doing on the scrapbooking end of things! :D XOXO

WINNER, cards, nano, and more :D

okay, so O.M.Gosh! there were sooo many comments on the blog candy giveaway! this has been an awesome blog birthday, even though i'm the one giving away the presents :D i am still in awe that i have been running a blog for ONE YEAR! it's really a benchmark.

i loved hearing everyone's comments about their goals and how they accomplished them--so many of you have gotten into shape, and that is awesome!

well, i used http://www.random.org/ to generate a random number for comments... and our winner is

comment #41 Lynne

of Ruby-Dooby-Doo's Stampin Spot!

congratulations--your zip-wire slide sounds like fun--what a super goal! :D

send me your info to larsenvt (AT) gmail (DOT) com, and i'll send out your goodies! thanks for playing everyone!

whether you know it or not, you've all encouraged me to keep on writing my novel... it's definitely something i'm going to follow through with because i have seen your successes. my story is getting interesting--so far i have about 7 characters, and they're going to be on a reality TV show--but i have only just been introducing them (in the first 20,000 words!) my characters include:

• Jen - a 15 yr old girl and her dad, Jerry. they lost their mom/ wife 7 months ago



• Melli - a 20 something year old, sister to Paul, dealing with a crazy pet dog



• Aitken - bounty hunter from Moon



• Derek - mechanic on a space ship that just had a major explosion



• Ian and Jason - talking coyotes who get into bar fights



• Meridian - female MC of "The Big Space Game" who wants to jump start her career again(needing a new title for the reality show, but won't have to worry about that now)

so yeah, if you can't tell, i'm mixing genres, time periods, and just using bits of everything from my imagination. the best part is seeing where i'll go next--so far, i don't have a fixed plan, so i can really expand however i want :D

anyway, thanks for participating, and *please* make sure to check back--i've got more candy coming next month, at least.

now, on to the cards :D

i bet you're getting sick of seeing snowflakes, border punches, and velvet ribbon... well, this is the last batch, for now ;)


don't worry, i've got some super funky and ultra bright/ colorful cards to share tomorrow if this isn't quite your thing :D

this first one was made with my brothers in mind. i might pass it on to an uncle, though, since my brothers have seen this card before... but they liked it for Christmas, and that's what matters, right?

so glad you could stop by again--it means a lot. hope you have a fabulous week ahead!

making memories anyone?

oh my goodness!

my friend Paulina is hosting an amazing BLOG CANDY giveaway! it's super simple to enter, so head on over HERE to post your comment.

check out these goodies!


seriously, i'm drooling over here :D

i'll be back soon with a LOAD of cards to share...

blog candy winner!

hi all! thanks to all of you who participated in my first blog candy giveaway... it was so much fun! i got to read your comments and get to know you a little more--i loved seeing what fall activities you really enjoyed... most of them match up with mine :D

anyway, on to the winner!

i used random.org to generate a winner (super easy :D) and comment #16 won!

Amy from Scrapping Mommy shared her favorite fall activities and said,

"Hi Ginny!! What awesome blog candy!! I have spread the love by posting about your blog candy on my blog's sidebar. ;) My favorite thing about fall is the cooler weather, I get to wear sweaters, the awesome fall harvest and yummy soups that I get to make with it, and the chance to get to do more baking."

congratulations again Amy! please contact me at larsenvt (AT) gmail (DOT) com so i can get your goodies out to you :D

and for those of you that want another chance to win, i'll be posting some more candy soon (i've got a blog-o-versary coming up soon :D) so check back later...

hugs to all, and thanks again!

card patterns sketch #36

hey! i got to participate in another blog challenge. this time it's from Card Patterns, and i got to try a funky sketch that i wouldn'tve thought of if i hadn't happened to check it out this week.

for this card i used some Bazzill, owl ribbon, and most of the patterned paper is from DCWV {Indian Summer}. hmm, i even busted out my Cricut for the bookplate cut-out. seems i've been neglecting that lil' baby lately :D

i've been super busy this week--getting swim meets together, going to teacher training, and just being all around tired out. i don't think i got to bed earlier than 11:30pm ANY night this week except for last night. and THEN, i didn't even remember to set my alarm... so thank goodness for family members who "have my back." sheesh--i would've died if i was late to school.

anyway, i'm going to be back for some more posting... i think it'll be Christmas themed. i seriously can't wait. i've been listening to snippets of Josh Groban's "Noel" CD lately--ahh, definitely getting me ready for Christmas :D

thanks for looking, and enjoy your weekend!

oh, P.S.! check out my BLOG CANDY... one more day only to comment!

more zombie goodness...

i made these zombie bookmarks on commission from my sister, Cecelia, who is holding a giveaway. strangely enough, you can win one of these AND a book if you head over to her blog, Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia. she talks about life, books, food, foibles, family *yay sisters!* and just posted a yummerlicious sounding recipe :D

check it out if you haven't already, and who knows? maybe you'll win a bookmark!

thanks for looking :D

{FREEBIE FRIDAY WINNER!}

and the winner of FREEBIE FRIDAY (generated by RANDOM.ORG's true random number generator) is...

Number 10!
Bonnie said...
I love creative handmade cards! I would like a card for my son's upcoming 11th birthday and he loves coins (collector) and old books so anything with a vintage look would be awesome! He would love a special and unique card created just for him. Thanks!!

congratulations Bonnie! you'll be getting your custom-made card in the mail soon :D thanks to all who participated, and left lovely comments... but don't go away, i'll be having another contest soon (*hint hint*)

don't forget to be checking back every so often for more cards and creations... and maybe even an Etsy shop soon!?

many thanks.

here's a simple card in summer colors :D i love madras print & plaid (don't own much in relation to clothing, but still enjoy it), especially when it's fun paper like this! i kept this card really simple... and i like how easy it was to make, but next time i think i'll add a bit more, or change the focal point.

one thing that's nice is that there's no ribbon, glitter, or bling, so this could actually work for a GUY card :D i have been trying to expand my abilities, and my brothers tell me that brads are the best part of the "guy cards" i make :D (not that i can totally rely on them for a sense of style... haha!)

this is quick because i have some storytelling to do tomorrow for VBA (it's been going great this week), and i weeded at church after our "day" was over--thus, i am wiped out.

have a great thursday, and don't forget to enter the giveaway if you haven't. and please come back tomorrow for another post (*crosses fingers*) TFL :D

weekend tidbits!

wow, so much has happened this weekend, and i'm so ready to share some new cards with you, and tell you a little bit about how busy i've suddenly become!

first of all, thanks to everyone who's entered my giveaway :D it's so fun to read your comments on who you'd like to give a special card to--i know i'll have a ton of fun making the card for whoever wins! if you haven't already entered, all you have to do is leave a comment on THIS POST, or just click on the "giveaway" photo in the sidebar--feel free to share this with friends! the contest ends July 17th, so don't forget...

secondly, this weekend was filled with creating, but not exactly the card-making kind. i baked some cupcakes for a my friend Paulina's surprise bday party (she just got featured on a blog--check it out!), and i also set up decorations at my church for our Vacation Bible Adventure going on this week. i was in charge of decorating the foyer in a medieval theme because the whole week is called "King's Quest." i loved coming up with ideas for the space i got to work with--i made several different "areas:"

• a weapon's wall (brown butcher paper with a sweet flag on the wall and knives made by my brother Joey hanging REALLY high above the ground),


• a couple of castle windows opening up to outdoor scenes,


• an indoor eating area complete with a *REAL* deer's head, some sweet stained glass windows (melted crayon between 2 pieces of wax paper), candelabra, old books, etc.,


• an outdoor "camp" area with a maple sapling branch freshly cut and made to look like a full tree, plus a cool campfire with old metal pot, and even arrows stuck in the tree trunk :D,


• a tournament tent--you know the ones with the stripes that knights used to keep their armor and supplies in while they were jousting, etc? yeah--really cool!


• lastly, a stand-alone CASTLE. it's a hexagon shape made out of a huge refrig. box. i cut out the windows and drawbridge, as well as the balcony window on Thursday, and made the stained glass that night at home. i painted the castle gray, and then added the stone/ brick detail with a sharpie and some shading later. isn't that a cool porticullis? i have a balcony with *curtains* even on the backside (replete with vines!), as well as little flags flying from the turret. this castle has about 20 windows, and just about all of them have some light pouring out from them because i positioned a floodlight in the middle of the castle pointing up so that the windows would catch light... you can tell in the picture below. oh, don't forget the moat! i also attached a drawbridge chain after the picture was taken, and made the bridge to look like it had planks...

whew, that took so much time, and i had a lot of help, but let me tell you--designing that castle and seeing it come to fruition was SO NEAT. i danced for joy when i saw what the light did for the windows... literally :D (speaking of VBA--i got to tell my first story of the week today, and it went so well! i got to tell the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, which you can find here :D i loved seeing the kids sitting with rapt attention listening to me make a fool of myself...)

next, i got nominated for a blog award! this comes from my sweet sister (so does it really count?) but it makes me smile and feel loved :D she's really a great blogger, and if you haven't checked out her hilarious (and random) ramblings about life (or the GIVEAWAYS!) then you really should... go HERE to do so. i'll pass on the award as soon as i get some more of my wits about me... thanks Cece!

lastly, let's get onto the card... this is one i made for my cousin's wife (so does that make her my cousin-in-law? tehee!) who is expecting in August. my sister and i are sending her a little gift package, and my end of the bargain was to make a set of thank you cards, of which this is one design:

i LOVE the velvet ribbon, and i am sooo glad i bought this swirl/ stiching stamp from Impress a while ago--it's gotten so much use :D i think that although this card is simple, it really does the trick, and i know Marcella will love it. i made a similar card using red velvet and red pearls but with the same design. ooh, and don't you LOVE that DeNami Design sentiment? they recently came out with a new line of stamps and *buttons*, and you really should check them out.

well, that's it for today! don't forget about the giveaway, and thanks so much for looking... i'd love to know what you think about the castle (it's my little creative baby... i might post more pictures later--BEWARE :D haha) or about the card...

have a wonderful Monday!

Freebie Friday! (FINALLY!)

hip hip hooray! it's Friday! and it's a FREEBIE Friday no less! (thus titled for the reasons below...)

as of late i've been slowly getting items together for some blog candy, and i'm super excited with what i have--i think you'll love it! as it is, i'm almost ready to post that blog entry, but i thought it would be fun to do some *pre-blog candy* to tease you :D

this is actually in honor of my sister, Cecelia, who inspires/ encourages me to no end... she asked me this week to make her a CUSTOM CARD for means nefarious, and of course, being a good sister, i obliged, and i think it's safe to say that she LOVED the results...

soo, i thought,"if my sister has specific card needs, then i'm betting all of YOU have some specific occasions you'd like something to give that was just a little bit specialer than normal." am i right?

sooooooooo here's the deal--i'm offering up a CUSTOM CRAFTED CARD based upon a theme, character, person, or occasion of YOUR choosing. that means you don't do the work, but still have something amazing to give away (or heck, you could keep it for yourself... *I* would!)

all you have to do to win this *pre blog candy prize* is...

• leave a comment at the end of this post answering this question: "What kind of card would you like me to make for you, and why?" (only one entry per person, please!)
  
• leave me a way to contact you (email/ blog address/ something) BEFORE next Friday, July 17th, 2009 @ Midnight PST
  

i'll pick a winner by Random Number Generator and announce it here on the blog on Saturday, July 18th & contact our winner :D i'd love it if you spread the word to your friends and let them know they could get a CUSTOM CRAFTED CARD made by moi! (note: anyone is welcome to enter--international shipping is cool :D) so have some fun with this, and get thinking! if you're stumped as to the answer to the above question, you can always check out some of my previous posts--sometimes looking at what someones already created gives you a better idea of what you'd like.

thanks for looking, and have a fabulous FREEBIE Friday! :D