Clean And Simple No 6

This is another, more simple card made using the Distress Ink and sponge watercolor technique.  The butterflies were actually embossed in white before I added the ink.  The butterfly was punched (I seem to be in a butterfly mode these days) and I added small beads to the body.  The background was matted onto dark brown then I added a narrow ribbon.  I adhered a twine bow behind the orange button and attached it with a glue dot.

I'll be using some of these "clean and simple" techniques in future cards.  It was a good class.

Artist Trading Card Challenge

I received the artist trading card on the left in an exchange.  I decided to replicate it as best I could using photos I took in Africa.  The background is leopard skin and I bordered it in a light color as a mat.  I decided to use a lioness instead of a lion photo and bordered it with three colors.  The text was added to colored boxes.  Same but different.  A fun challenge.

Clean And Simple No 5

I embossed light blue cardstock and cut a circle.  This was matted with a darker circle and adhered to the card.  I stamped the text in black on a white strip and pointed the ends.  The butterfly is punched, has inked edges and faux jewel body.  Clean and simple.

Clean And Simple No 4

This card was also inspired by the online class.

I stamped a background with red on red.  Two strips of paper were cut to a point and added as shown.  I embossed white cardstock then cut a circle from it.  The butterfly is punched and I added flat pearls to the butterfly, at the edge of the circle and near the paper strips.

I'd call that pretty simple.

Not in Colorado In February

We just got home from Oregon (Portland area).  One of the things that always impresses me in OR is that there is always something in bloom.  You certainly wouldn't see this in Colorado at this time of year.  In fact, the day we arrived home we had a couple of inches of snow all over the yard, roads and sidewalks.  Now that's what I call contrast!

Clean and Simple No 3

The circular pattern on this card is a die cut.  I stamped the text in green and adhered it to a light green mat and then a strip of pink.

The flowers and leaves are punched and I added small white brads to the flower centers and border.

This design could be used with any embossing folder or die cut and could be designed for almost any occasion.

Wintery Scene

This was what we faced on I-70 about 70 miles west of Grand Junction on Sunday.  Everyone slowed to 40 mph and kept moving forward.  This was about as bad as it got, then it grew darker, the snow turned to rain, then we just had wet roads.  Haven't experienced those conditions on that stretch of road before.

The storm moved into Grand Junction but left only a couple of inches of snow and it didn't come down nearly as thickly in town.

Clean And Simple No 2

Jennifer  McGuire demonstrated this background technique in the online class.  It's easy using Distress Inks and the applicator sponge.  The images are Tim Holtz stamps with the butterfly cut from orange cardstock and adhered in place.

I didn't have baker's twine in coordinating colors so I twisted orange and dark brown embroidery floss for a similar look.  I mounted the background on an orange mat and then adhered all of it to a brown card.

Maybe I can do clean and simple.

Special Note

I'm rethinking my blogging and will not make new posts on the weekend.  I'll feature stamping projects on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and other projects on Tuesday and Thursday.  At least that's the current plan.  It's possible I'll revise again at some point but time will tell.

Thanks for visiting.

Clean And Simple

"Clean and simple" cards are usually not my style.  When I attempt to make them, they always seem to be lacking something - like layers and ribbon and embellishments (which is my usual style).  But I decided to take an online class recently to expand my horizons so I'll be showing some of the cards I created as a result of the class.

This one features may die cut flowers.  I cut three in blue and about 15 in white and then glued a blue one on top of a stack of 5 white ones.  That created a little highlight so they would stand out more from the background.  To add a bit more interest, I punched some smaller flowers in blue and filled in some of the empty space.  Then I white embossed some text.

I like this look and will probably use it with other die cuts.

Giraffe Center

The purpose of the center is to rehabilitate and breed the Rothchild Giraffe which was almost endangered.  There were two resident giraffes and we were allowed to feed them.  The food was pellets provided by the facility, one handful per visitor.  "Daisy" was very polite when receiving her food and it was a unique experience.  Inside the building are exhibits and a small area where lectures are given.

Downtown Nairobi

Since we missed our flight out of London and didn't have a night in Nairobi, this was our first look at downtown Nairobi.  In some respects it was somewhat like other cities, especially the traffic jams.  Here we found pavement and, in some areas, sidewalks.

We didn't venture outside the Nairobi International Hotel where we had lunch until it was time to board van for a trip to the Giraffe Center and Blixen Museum.

Back To Nairobi

There were similarities between the rural and urban areas such as the commercial buildings like this red one.  The housing buildings were much larger as one would expect.  There still weren't sidewalks.

It's a Baby!

This mother and her youngster were colorful and willing to pose for a photo.

For Sale

As with the other villages, art pieces were for sale.  This woman made these beautiful necklaces usisng beads and shells.

Fun For The Kids

After making sure it was okay, I gave bottles of soap bubbles to some of the children.  The young man on the left is blowing bubbles which the other children are catching.  The little fellow in the yellow shirt also has a bottle but it appears he isn't sharing at the moment.

House Interior

Like the Samburu houses, these were very simple and revealed how few possessions the people had.  The house was basically a large room with a section walled off where the children slept.  Everyone slept on cowhide on the floor which was dirt.

The posts in the photo had some significance.  The family touched one of the poles in the morning before starting their day and the other one at night before they retired.

You can see the fire pit used for cooking.

Men Singing

The Masai clothing was very colorful and it was quite common to see men outside of the village wearing the bright red or orange cover.  They seemed to have a good time with their singing and, like the Samburu village, had a jumping competition to show their manhood.

Masai Village

We visited the village that was closest to Siana Springs Camp where we stayed.  The houses were quite different from those in Samburu.  Most significant was the squared sides and mostly flat roof, all covered with mud.  

Stoney Tangawizi?

This was our drink of choice when we could get it.  We probably wouldn't have known about it had we not had it recommended by friends who visited Africa before us.

It's made by Coca Cola but not sold in the US.  It is much like ginger ale but with a much stronger ginger flavor.  It tickles your throat at the first swallow and is very refreshing.

I think it's nice to experience a unique taste when traveling and I certainly enjoyed this one!  Bring on the Stoneys!

A Muddy River

The area around the river was very lush and full of vegetation.  There was a very nice lodge here and the origination of the hot air balloon ride.  We didn't choose to take that ride but later met up with our fellow travelers here.  While they were in the air, we had a couple hours of private tour which we enjoyed a lot.

The photo above shows a typical Masai landscape.  And those spots on the ground?  Cheetahs!   They were busy resting but one acknowledged our presence by raising his head.  They surely are a pretty creature!

The Masai part of the adventure is almost over and we'll be heading back to Nairobi.  But first I'll show you a photo of the river area and then some scenes from the village we visited.  So come back tomorrow!

Lion Was Deeply Concerned

Not!  The lion was so concerned that we were in the center of his pride that he rolled over on his back and took a nap.

Settling Down Again

The newly arriving lioness and all of the cubs settled down in the bushes and things were quiet once again.  It was amazing how little space so many big animals needed but they all settled down and were quiet once again.

Cubs Greet a Lioness

The cubs were quitetly resting in a group near some bushes until this lioness arrived on the scene.  There was great excitement at her coming and the cubs rushed out to greet here.  We could even hear purring from the cubs.  Must be nice to be so popular.

Lionesses Just Kept Coming

There were several lionesses in the pride when we arrived but as we watched, more and more of them came from surrounding areas.  They found a spot and  were soon resting.

Tomorrow I'll show you a collection of youngsters.