Squash/Smash

Squash/Smash, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

In 2011 I had a Project 12 going on. Kind of like Project Life, just by month and not by week. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed putting it together. But for 2012 I decided to do something different.

Thus...the Squash/Smash Book. A riff of K&Co's Smash Book, renamed by my mom as a Squash Book., with a little bit of Junque Journal, a la Tangie Baxter, thrown in for good measure.  Here's a link to the brand-spanking-new, never-been-used Squash Book I posted back in December.

I do one page each day, adhering STUFF from my day...receipts, menus, comic strips, church bulletins, song lyrics. Whatever goes on and needs to be documented.

I will make it through the last day of June with this one. And I've already got the new one ready to go. As you can see, the old one is stuffed to the gills! ;-)

I will probably add "January-June" on the front cover with letter stickers.

The one big lesson I learned is to add the Distress Ink on the edges of the cover AFTER I've finished filling the Squash book. I grabbed it many times with damp hands only to discover I had Walnut Stain all over my fingers!! =D Heh heh.



Thanks so much for dropping by today--have a great weekend! And if you're in the heat like we are--stay cool!


~Cynthia

Formal Birthday Part Deux

Formal Birthday Part Deux, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

This is the twin card of yesterday's post. My sister and her husband have the same birthday, so I decided to make their cards similar...a la Jen on her JENerally Speaking blog.

All I did different from the first card was to punch the circle on the left side. My sister's left-handed. Get it? ;-)



Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (black cardstock); GinaK (white cardstock); Pop*Tone (Black Licorice Plain Card)
Stamps: Scrappy Cat (Background and Texture Stamps); Stampin Up (birthday sentiment)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot, Chipped Sapphire)
ETC: EK Success (Pop Dots); Marvy-Uchida (2-inch and 1.5-inch circle punches); Zig Two-way Glue Pen



Thanks for visiting!! Have a wonderfully crafty day!!

~Cynthia

Formal Birthday Card

Formal Birthday Card, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I am lovin' this card! And yes, I can say that because it was not my idea! LOL!! Check out Jen's card on her blog, JENerally Speaking. SO COOL. I totally stole...er...borrowed the idea! ;-)

First I stamped the background bubbles on white cardstock, then trimmed it down to fit the card blank.

I punched a circle on the side and, turning the circle piece over, stamped the birthday sentiment. Then I punched the same sized circle from black cardstock and used the circle punch that's one size larger to make a ring.

Then I adhered everything. The panel has pop dots beneath it for height. The ring and the circle have Zig glue beneath them so I could have time to move them into place.

For all the steps, this card came together quickly. My favorite kind of card!! I think I'll send this one to my brother-in-law then make a girly one for my sister. They have the same birthday! =D


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (black cardstock); GinaK (white cardstock); Pop*Tone (Black Licorice Plain Card)
Stamps: Scrappy Cat (Background and Texture Stamps); Stampin Up (birthday sentiment)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot, Festive Berries)
ETC: EK Success (Pop Dots); Marvy-Uchida (2-inch and 1.5-inch circle punches); Zig Two-way Glue Pen


This past year I got a jump on my December Daily album by setting up the album in July. I just realized that July begins on SUNDAY. I have not even bought any paper!! It's only June and I'm already BEHIND!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!


~Cynthia

Sympathy, Part Two

Sympathy, Part Two, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Thanks for all the super nice comments on yesterday's card!! As you can see from today's offering...I tried again.

By the time I get satisfied with this make, it will be too late to send it! :-o

I used the same recipe for this card as I did yesterday. I found the card (and the inspiration) over on My Little Slice of Bliss--Emily Keaton's blog.

I stamped the grass image, then stamped it off one time to the right. I stamped the sentiment and scored three lines on the right edge. Finally, I adhered the panel to a card blank.

For some odd reason (operator error??) the color of the cardstock--which is a lovely pale sage green--didn't really translate well on either of these cards. Just use your imagination, OK? =D



Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (sage green cardstock); Recollections (ivory card blank)
Stamps: Endless Creation (sentiment); Great Impressions (grass #304)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Forest Moss)
ETC: Scor-Buddy



Thanks for stopping in!


~Cynthia

With Sympathy

With Sympathy, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I CASE'ed this card from Emily on her My Little Slice of Bliss blog. She has the cutest cards! =D

I needed a sympathy card, but I'm not too sure about this one yet. I'm letting it grow on me for a bit.

I stamped the cattails, then stamped again a bit to the right without re-inking. Then I stamped the sentiment. For a bit of texture and interest, I added three scored lines at the top.

Unfortunately, the cardstock is really textured and the images just didn't stamp that well. However, it's kinda sorta distressed and painterly. And....I don't know.....I might just make the card again using the back, smooth, side of the cardstock. Hmmmmm.....



Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (pale green cardstock)
Stamps: Endless Creations (sentiment); Stacy Stamps (Solid Wildflower set)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Markers (Tea Dye and Forest Moss)
ETC: Scor-Buddy


I can't believe it's the last week of June already. What happened there??? ;-) Have a great day!


~Cynthia

Effer Dare 188

Effer Dare 188, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Over on the Effer Dare blog, Challenge #188 is to create a scrapbook page a la Lucas Sharp and his super cool creation. Go check it out! =D

The general idea is to create a snapshot of who you are at this moment. I adhered various items then brushed everything with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink to grunge it up a bit. Under each item I stamped TODAY in Black Soot Distress Ink.

From left to right, top to bottom:

**Roll of quarters wrapper: How much money I have in my key case (i.e. wallet)
**Air Mail/Interstate sign: I would rather be driving, flying or sailing
**Richard John Neuhaus quote: Best quote I read all day

**3: I hiked 3 miles on the Cottonwood Trail
**Tiny feather: I found this outside
**Snyder's of Hanover (pretzels): Current favorite snack

**Cryptoquote: I got the Cryptoquote right
**7: My favorite number. I am the 7!
**1: The first hurricane of the season formed...then faded quickly



It was really kind of fun choosing things. I have a bunch of other stuff I wanted to include, but I think this is a pretty good idea of what I'm up to at this moment. You know...not a whole lot. ;-) LOL!

Anyway, try this out. The Effer Dare blog has other cool ideas, like using photographs.



Have a wonderful weekend!!!

~Cynthia

PS: In case the Neuhaus quote is too hard to read, here it is:

We have not the right to despair, for despair is sin. And we have not the reason to despair, quite simply because Christ has risen.

OLW 93--In the Kitchen

OLW 93--In the Kitchen, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

This week's One Layer Wednesday challenge is being hosted by Heather. Her challenge is to take inspiration from your kitchen. Now how cool is that??!! =D

I looked for months trying to find the perfect pear stamp and I found it in a set by Hero Arts a few years ago. It's actually an outline stamp.

I stamped the pear on a scrap piece of white cardstock using Peeled Paint Distress Ink. Then I grabbed an assortment of green and yellow Distress Markers and used a water brush to paint the pear and the leaves.

I cut out the image and adhered it to an ivory card blank. I thought the pear looked better on the warm ivory than the cool white.

I wanted a hello stamp and the first one I found had this weird dotted box around it so I just used the Peeled Paint Distress Marker to color in the word only. Easy Peasy!

I think the pear turned out pretty cool! =D I tried to make it all mottled like a real pear is. It's actually making me kinda hungry. ;-)



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (ivory card blank); GinaK (white cardstock)
Stamps: Hero Arts (Simply the Best set); Studio G/Hampton Arts (hello sentiment)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Peeled Paint); Distress Markers (Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Shabby Shutters, Crushed Olive)
ETC: Kuretake (water brush); Glue Glider Pro; Zig Two-way Glue Pen




Thanks so much for stopping in today. I appreciate your visits! =D


~Cynthia