Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Blake's Birthday Card

Well, the first thing I have to say today is HELP!

You people have got to stop be so danged creative! Please!!! I have no time to make anything myself, because I am too busy commenting on all of your wonderful creations. So, please, for me, will you just give it a rest for a few hours or so? So I can finish something of my own? I mean, really, People, you are just exhausting me.

OK. Rant over. For the moment. I need to catch my breath.

I met Ellie for lunch yesterday at Paradise Bakery in Queen Creek. She wanted to take me to lunch for looking in on her kitties while she was in California. It was no big deal for me to do so, but she felt I deserved a reward--and who am I to argue with her? I had a yummy Chicken Cuban panini. I love paninis. They make my heart sing. (Not in tune, mind you. But just the same...) We got to catch up a bit with each other, and I gave Ellie the birthday card I made for her.

I also finished a card I made for Blake, the chef-owner of The Deli. You know, that little neighborhood spot we visit once a week? Yeah, that's the one. Well, his birthday is today, so I thought I'd quickly put something together for him. And, if you know me, you know I just lied a bit. I don't quickly do much of anything, especially create cards. Well, I have been known to speed-read, but that's about all I do faster than a snail. Oh, yeah, except one other little thing. I also drive a bit fast. In fact, Gary mentioned recently that I am lucky I don't have a host of speeding tickets for as fast I drive the freeway. Well, it's the freeway, for goodness' sake. And I go in the HOV lane (no, not during rush hour), so it's easy to go a bit over the speed limit. How much? Never you mind. It's like Charles Barkley said when he played basketball here--that lane is for speeding, so slowpokes should just move on over. I couldn't agree more.

But I digress. (I do that a lot; I am easily distracted. They have a name for that condition, but it seems to have slipped my mind.) Anyway, I thought it would be nice to use a chef image for Blake, since he is a chef and all. He probably would appreciate a NY Giants football-themed card, but that just "ain't" happening. Anyway, I found this chef image on Bugaboo Stamps, and thought the menu board would be a perfect frame for a funny sentiment, which I found on Graphicat Stamps. I merged the two images using Photoshop Elements, and I printed the final image on Cryogen CS.

I chose Bazzill Kraft CS for the card base, and covered it first with Basic Grey Kraft paper and then with cheesecloth. I thought the cheesecloth was terribly clever, ahem, since the card is for a chef who uses cheesecloth at work. (Sometimes, when I am really lucky, there is actually a method to my madness!) Then I added some Basic Grey Basics White patterned paper, which was distressed with my Zutter Distrezz-It-All.

The Deli has burlap coffee bags hanging from its walls, so I had to include some burlap on the card. I tied a bit of Martha Stewart baker's twine and some jute around a piece of cardboard, which I used to frame my image. Looking through my stash I found some card charms that fit the Deli profile--cheese, a wine glass, and a wine corkscrew--which I fastened to the twine with a Tim Holtz Trinket Pin. Also in my stash were some brown buttons, which I added just because I could. I hope I don't offend too many people with the little Tim Holtz Journaling Ticket menu I designed. The menu was inspired by the movie "Silence of the Lambs", and by my very dear friend, Hannibal Lecter. I thought the menu fit the sentiment rather perfectly. (Yeah, I know I am a sick puppy!) I affixed the ticket to a tag with a Tim Holtz Mini Paper Clip. Last, but not least, the image was colored with Copics: C00, C0, E000, E00, E11, E13, E40, E42, E43, E50, E53, E57.

I am entering this card into the following:

Digital Tuesday Monochromatic Challenge
Love to Create Add a Tag Challenge

Hopefully, neither challenge will toss out my entry for being inappropriate. Pffffft!

I am going to see my sisters today for a bit. Merrilyn is doing very well with her recovery, thank goodness! And Barbara will be leaving for her home in Wisconsin tomorrow.

Hope you all have a great rest of the week, but slow down on your creations, pretty please? Thank you. My fried brain will appreciate that.

20 comments:

  1. How fabulous what a super creation Penny Hugs Elaine

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  2. Penny, your card is adorable! You put so much into your cards and the layers! It has to be exhausting to come up with these wonderful ideas!

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  3. Hahaha I have that problem too- looks like your Mojo was ready to be creative though- fabulous card- love your card and all of the fun fibers and details. Lol- love the sentiment- I hate liver.....eat without me! My dog loves it though.....!

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  4. Another wonderful creation!! You really have a whole story behind the card and in the card as well :) Love all the bits you added to this - I'm sure it will be greatly appreciated!

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  5. Best oldest sister BarbaraAugust 1, 2012 at 5:09 PM

    Wow! Another hit! I know the answer.....layer,layer, layer and just when you think you are done.......layer again! Thanks for today and I love you!

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  6. You make me laugh and laughter is good for the soul, so therefore, you're good for my soul.

    Ha. Logic. I has it.

    Great card. I don't think it's twisted at all. I think it's clever and really well done. Great coloring. Great piling on of the stuff. I really love the burlap and the cheesecloth and the trinket pin with the charms.

    BTW, I drive too fast also, though my points finally went away. I got three tickets in two years and two were by the same policeman. Oops.

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  7. Wonderful card Penny and as always it is beautifully colored and designed. I love this little fun chef and your beautiful accessories to make the card pop!!

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  8. Wowwww Penny, love the vintage effect here and these neutral colors.Thanks for your comments at Patricia St. Martin Blog to my used pict..so feel free to ask me your favorite product from all my Stuff. email me to nicecrane@yahoo.com

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  9. Wow! What a creative creation! Thanks for playing the DTC this week!

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  10. Hi sweetie this is just gorgeous, fabulous creation, hugs Pops x x x

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  11. Penny,
    Your card is absolute gorgeous!! I love your style and all these lovely details!! It's a really great work!
    Hugs Conny

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  12. Penny, this is just over the top gorgeous girl! I love all the texture and layers, and the chef with the menu adds to such a great design! Great job and love your style!
    Hugs,
    Marsha

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  13. You are too funny, Penny :D Your card is FABULOUS!!!! I love all of that juicy texture!!! Your coloring is perfect too! The chef will love his custom colored chef...you are so sweet to remember his birthday and I am sure he will treasure this!

    Hugs to you sweet Penny!

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  14. Hi Penny,

    THANKS for stopping at my blog and your sweet comment!

    LOL - I can't stop,I can't stooop but I promise to keep you in ideas and goodies too!

    I love panini's too - oh my gosh, I wish I was out at lunch with you.

    I get distracted too - in fact *blushing* I'm commenting you WHILE I wait for a file to cut on my Silhouette SD. hehe. Well when the kids grow up and go away we still continue to multitask, no?

    So glad I came and got to see your BEEEEEEUUUTEEEEFUL card. Really, tis lovely!

    Blessings,
    Barb

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  15. This is awesome! I love how you were to incorporate so much of the Deli into the card to really personalize it. I am sure he loved it..it is amazing after all!
    I have to say I love ready your posts... your sense of humor is a hoot! Not to mention your amazing talent is fun to ohhhh and ahhh over.

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  16. Hi Penny

    I love your card and all the textures and natural look to it! I loved the way you asked everyone in crafting blogland to ease up a little. I completely feel the same way as this! OMW where do these people get the time!

    Sarah x

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  17. WOW!! simply fabulous with all your elements!! Thanks for joining us this week at "Add A Tag" at Love to Create Challenge

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  18. Hey Penny, I know what you mean when it comes to commenting a person is never caught up. No matter how hard you try a person has missed someone. I see Sarah agrees! I do not know where the girls get the time to do a card or more a day. I just can't do it.
    You did a wonderful job on your card for your chief friend. I bet he really love it. WOW on all the embellishments and I love the charms.
    Hugs

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  19. What a fun, clever card, Mom! I love how you worked in all the little touches that tie into a chef's world (like the cheesecloth). And yes, I enjoy the Hannibal Lecter reference on the menu.

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  20. P.S. I love how you're using technology so much lately! Very cool!

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Thank you for visiting my blog! I appreciate the kind comments more than I can say! :^)
Hugs, Penny