Dream Card, Bargain Shopping and Paper Flowers

Hi, I wanted to do a quick post and let all of you know I'm still around. Not long after my last post we had Blogger's several-days-long service disruption and then shortly after it was back online, my computer crashed! So, to make a long story short, I am back online and now have Windows 7 instead of Vista. Thank goodness for a future son-in-law, who, along with his many other positive attributes, happens to be a Computer support specialist. I've been busy reloading my software and getting everything updated and working properly. But I still managed to get in a little craft time! The little cards you saw in my last post (http://paperoasis.blogspot.com/2011/05/workdesk-wednesday.html) have been converted into a banner. Most of this card is made from a few of the papers in DCWV The Botanical Stack. I love the soft earthy color on these sheets.

Sorry for the quality of these photos. Maybe someday it will stop raining and I can take pictures outside. Sigh.  Anyway, I've also been craft shopping and picked up a few fun things from Michael's $1.00 bin. These little teardrop could be used in a lot of different ways to embellish cards and pages. I used a few in the center of this paper flower.

Recollections Boutique Fleur Mini Teardrop Gems

Then I found this glitter that really rocks. I bought 3 bottles but after using it I went back for more. Don't tell anyone, but I'm not a big Stickles fan. I know, everyone raves over Stickles, but I've found it comes out in big messy globs, but not this stuff from the $1 bin! It has a small tip and comes out in a nice manageable line. Hmmm, maybe I should go back for more...

Studio g Glitter Glue

Then I found these nice rubber stamps. They're a good size and quality, not like what you usually find in the $1 bin. I also picked up more of the one dollar rhinestones (can't have too many of those, right?) and a little stapler with colored staples that was on clearance. All the Recollections stuff was 40% off, so I got a few cardstock packs and metallic mini brads.

I was watching paper flowers tutorials on You Tube a few days before my traumatic computer crash. If you are interested in making paper flowers you must spend a little time browsing though a few videos. Here are some of the flowers I came up with after watching:

 

Most of these are loosely based on this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_hFRymeVfo&feature=related  by selectionsbyER. This red one is my favorite:

 

Here's the yellow flower with the blue teardrop center.

 

This is a nice coppery one:

 

The one below couldn't be easier. It is 8 scalloped circles, edges inked, stacked, with a brad in the center holding them together. They were misted with water and scrunched up toward the center, reshaped and let dry. It reminds me of a carnation with the edges dyed. The video is by pinkaboo6691, check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eufh8sFpKc8

I appreciate the comments in response to my last post and all of you who emailed me or contacted me through yahoo groups to answer my question (if there is interest in photos of the various stages of creating a card). So, in the future I will take more photos to share my card-making process with you (such as it sometimes is, LOL). Now I'm off to Michael's for more glitter glue! I hope everyone has a relaxing weekend and thank you for visiting Paper Oasis!
Cindy

Workdesk Wednesday

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday is a weekly event at http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com. I thought I'd join in and give you a glimpse of what I'm working on this week. I haven't cleaned up from the last couple of projects so "it is what it is". I have so many ideas that I often can't wait to start the next project before cleaning up the clutter from the last. (Also cleaning isn't nearly as much fun!)

I'm working on a garden themed card using the sketch from this weeks challenge at My Favorite Things. I should have taken a photo of my trash can because half of my ideas for the card went there last night!

You also get to see my giant magnifying glasses!

I've gotten pretty good at tossing something that just isn't working out. I've been wondering if you might like to see photos of the various stages of creating a card, not just the finished card. I know most of you know the techniques involved, but show more of the thinking process that went into making the card. Photos of what I think works, what I toss out, etc. What do you think? Leave a comment and let me know, and thank you for visiting Paper Oasis!
Cindy

I am in full sunshine now!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. My husband made my mom, our daughters and their families, and I a big dinner for Mother's Day; stuffed mushrooms, Chicken Cordon Bleu (with the most fabulous cream sauce), twice-baked potatoes, green beans, rolls, and dessert. Thank you honey, it was delicious!

Wow, I don't know how long it will last but we finally have sunshine today in Ohio. I decided to play along with Mojo Monday's sketch this week, and the sunshine inspired me to make this card.

I'm going to try to post more often and thought entering a few challenges might kick my you-know-what in gear. Maybe, we'll see ;-)  I actually made this card this morning AND took the photos AND had half the blog post written, all before I went to work at 2:00 p.m. Amazing - for me anyway! Normally I'm very slooooooow.

 

All the paper is from K&Company's Spring Blossom Designer Pad. The 3D daisy is cut from a few of the sheets. This next photo was taken in the full sun. It washes out some of the detail but you can see the dimension better.

The butterfly is also K&Company (yes, I am a fan!).  The vellum quote is from Joann's. I hope you are having a beautiful sunshiny day wherever you are! Thank you for visiting Paper Oasis!

Cindy