1/27/2016

Swirling Red

 
     I created this illustration for a recent SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators) contest. I did not win, but I had so much fun creating Red that I had to share her with you.
    SCBWI provided an excerpt from Little Red Riding Hood. We could pick any part of the excerpt to illustrate. I picked this:
     Once upon a time there was a little girl who was so sweet and kind that everyone loved her. Her grandmother, who loved her more than anyone else, gave her a little cape made of red velvet, which suited her so well that she wanted to wear it all the time. Because of that everyone took to calling her Little Red Riding Hood.
     My grannie used to make dresses for me all the time when I was a little girl. The first thing I did in those pretty dresses and their layers of crinoline was twirl around and around. Just like Red Riding Hood!
      I used a light watercolor wash for the background. Everything else is paper! I attached each and every strand of paper-hair and every little stone in the path by hand. I am especially proud of Red's patent leather shoes that I created by brushing a heavy glaze over part of her paper-shoes.
      And, if you look very closely, you will see the wolf.
     Thanks so much for allowing me to have a little of your time today. Hope your day is sunny and bright.
     May the Lord be glorified by the work of my hands, Pamela

1/19/2016

CardMaker and May Arts Blog Hop

     Welcome ribbon lovers and card makers to a Valentine's Day Card Making blog hop with the CardMaker and Ribbon Resource blog teams.
     I'm so excited to share my first posting as a new member of the CardMaker Blog Team! I have two cards to share with you today that celebrate the love between friends.
    
     I love how these two soft-pink ribbons tie the front and back of my card together.

     First, I cut two 4.25 x 5.5 panels. This is a great way to use up large scraps that are not big enough for a card base. I punched two holes in the front and back. I scored just below the holes so that it will be easier to open and display the card later.
     I should say that if you want to add an inside sentiment, now would be the time to do that.
      Cut two 10" lengths of ribbon. Line up front and back panels and insert both ends of the ribbon through the holes from the front of the card.  To have the narrower ribbon on top of the larger one on the finished card, you should insert the smallest ribbon first.
     You now have both ribbons sticking through the back panel. 
     Cross the ribbons in back and feed both ribbons through the opposite holes to the front of the card. 
      Pull the ribbon snug and trim ends as desired.
    
     Next, I trimmed a panel slightly smaller than the front of the card. I heat-embossed the sentiment and added pink 'diamonds' before adhering the panel with foam tape.


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     For my second card, I used a beautiful, crocheted ribbon.
     I pleated the ribbon by hand-stitching along the top of the flat ribbon. I adhered the ribbon t0 my card with glue dots. The front panel is a glitter sheet so regular glues and tapes would not hold the ribbon in place. But, the glue dots hold it securely.
     I punched one red and one black large heart. I punched two red and two black medium hearts. I adhered them together as shown, slightly offsetting the red and black to give added dimension.
     I stamped and matted the sentiment, adhering it to the card with glue dots. Then, I hot-glued the gold button and black ribbon in place.
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     Be sure to stop in and see the Valentine's Cards at each hop and leave a little love. The Ribbon Resource is giving away some of their gorgeous ribbon to a couple of hoppers.  

     Your next stop is at Terri's!

     Here's a complete line-up of the hops. If you get lost or find a broken link, you can always head over to CardMaker or Ribbon Resource for a complete line-up.


 Supplies used:
    ribbon: Ribbon Resource; cardstock: white heavy weight, black (the Paper Studio); red glitter sheet (DCWV-Holiday Glitzy Glitter Stack); heart punch (Fiskars- That's Amore medium and large); stamps: sentiment (Craft Smart, Hampton Art); gold button: (Dress it Up - Nostalgic Treasures); gems: pink (StudioG); ink: cranberry pigment and pink sky chalk (ColorBox); embossing powder: clear (Stampendous)
                                  

1/18/2016

--- Blog Hop Tuesday ---

     Just popping in to give you a heads up about a Valentine's Day Card blog hop! It begins tomorrow (Jan 19th) at 8 a.m. EST. The CardMaker magazine and the Ribbon Resource blog teams are hosting the hop. There will, of course, be a giveaway. Can't have a proper blog hop without fun prizes! I'll look forward to your visit tomorrow as you hop through my blog!

1/15/2016

Something New, Something Old Challenge ODBDSLC269

     Lots of red glitter and bling for Mom's birthday!
     I don't think it's possible to have too much glitter or too much red for Mom. In fact, she wore a bright, red wedding dress when she got married a few years back. She is just so much fun to be with!
     I created this card for the Something New, Something Old challenge over at Our Daily Bread Designs. My something NEW is their Happy Birthday Die (CSBD77). My something OLD is their Fancy Foliage Die (CSBD33).
     The beautiful, red glitter paper is from DCWV's Holiday Glitzy Glitter Stack.
     Come play with us! Hop on over to ODBD's blog and check out the rules. And, I must say that ODBD's challenge has been changed from weekly to monthly. So very happy about that! Makes it easier for me to play and not always think I missed yet another challenge because I couldn't find the time to create. Here's their link: http://www.ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/odbdslc269-something-new-something-old.html
     May the Lord be glorified by the work of my hands, Pamela

1/04/2016

CardMaker Blog Team!

     I'm on the CardMaker Magazine Blog Team!!! I couldn't be more excited to work and share my cards there. We are already working on blog hops and blog posts. You are in for some fun times, new techniques and great organizing tips! I can already feel the rebel in me rising to the top. Who says you must adhere your embellishments and layers perfectly straight!?! Who says turquoise and orange can't go together!?!
    Make sure you follow my personal blog www.cottagebelow.com and the CardMaker blog too http://www.cardmakermagazine.com/blog/ so that you don't miss any of the fun.
    You can meet the other team members here: http://www.cardmakermagazine.com/blog/?p=12846
     Hope you have a wonderful day. Thanks so much for stopping in today, Pamela