Old and New and Snow and Blue

First and foremost I feel the need to shout to the rooftops my amazement and gratitude. THAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUU! Ummmm I can't believe how many kind and wonderful comments you left on my last blog entry. Darnell really has some awesome friends, and so do I! Usually I try to call out each newbie by name, but as I now have over 30 new followers you're going to have to forgive me for not doing so. You'd be here all day! I have been diligently trying to work my way around and do the follow and comment backsies. If I haven't gotten to you yet, I promise I will!

Ok. Now for sloppy seconds: A card! Actually two of them. I've been crafting away here in the Frozen Tundra. 

My first card is all about the glitter and glam. I saw this AMAZEBALLS new technique over at Jessi Fogan's blog, OneCraftyMomma called a Faux Faux Patina. She wrote an awesome tutorial, so I'm not going to duplicate the entire step-by-step over here. Go check it out!

I started by inking a snowflake embossing folder with Weathered Wood Distress Inks and embossing a white piece of cardstock.

Then I followed step 2 of Jessi's tutorial using Chipped Sapphire, Peacock Feathers and Salty Ocean. 

Ooooo! So blue and wintry!

I did a variation of the next phase of Jessi's tutorial, and used perfect pearls mixed with water. I spritzed in Perfect Pewter, Perfect Pearl, and Forever Blue

When it all dried this background was shimmery, shiny, and all things that are right with the world. I absolutely LOVE how great this technique turned out (which, if I haven't mentioned by now, Jessi's blog has a great tutorial) (yes you should visit).

I also wanted to make up some extra special embellishments, so I die cut two pieces of vellum in the shape of snowflakes and painted the heck out of them with perfect pearls. 

 Just an FYI, these pictures are FALSE! They were taken after the snowflakes dried. What really happened was that as soon as water touched the vellum they curled into eeensy weensy little balls and my fingers got all full of shimmery paint as I attempted to make those buggers lie straight. Just to teach them a good lesson, I made them sit under some heavy books overnight. That'll show them.

If this card had any more glitter it would be a disco ball!

I made this card and combined some of the great challenges that are going on now:

House of Cards - Blue and Glitter Inspiration Image

Penny Black & More - Stencils and Embossing Folders

Retrosketches - Sketch

STAMPlorations - Stamps and Ink

Simon Says Stamp - Inky Background 

Now, I did tell you that I made two cards, It's my dad's 50th birthday this month! I love my poppa and he's as zany as I am (probably more so, if you can imagine that!) 

This is him and I at a New Year's Eve Party four years ago. I was making fun of him because he couldn't even keep his eyes open for a photo! Old Man! So he spread those peepers as wide as he could and so did I! And now this photo is framed in my house. It's my favorite! 


I was thinking about what card to make him. I love distressed cards and I love inky cards made with Distress Ink techniques, but I'm a real sucker for a good pun. He's kind of losing his hair... shhhh!  I had a *lightbulb* moment while I was cleaning my kitchen yesterday and just had to run right away to my craft room before I forgot (at least that's why I told myself I couldn't finish the dishes). 

Out popped this card:

*snicker* Shakespeare reference and and a bald joke, all on one card? I'm in love!

After I finished it I thought, hmmmm.... Should I take this even farther and make an accompanying card with a Depends that says "To pee or not To pee?" Nah - I gotta save something for his 60th!

I'm sending this over to Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - New. Brand New die cut, referencing my old man. I'd say that works. And to Virginia's View Challenge - Clean Slate. This is definitely one of the cleanest cards I've ever created! And to Seize the Birthday. It doesn't have the "Party" toppings, but it's definitely a b-day card.

Ok. Whew. We made it through. I promise to keep more succinct next time! Thanks for stopping by! Leave me a comment or follow my blog and I'll be sure to return the favor.