Saturday, August 22, 2015

Freshly Made Sketches No. 200


Well, I am not normally one to enter a card on a sketch blog but when I saw this sketch on Freshly Made Sketches, this card popped into my head and it was a no brainer.  This was also the fastest and cleanest card I have made.  Talk about "clean and simple".


Start with a card base of black cardstock.  Then cut two pieces of white cardstock at 4" x 5.25".   On one piece of the white cardstock stamp the "So You're" phrase with Memento Black Ink;  adhere the Gray Satin Ribbon under the phrase; adhere the 1/8" Silver ribbon on top of the Gray ribbon; then stamp the "tying the knot" phrase.  Adhere this piece to the back card base front.  On the other piece of white cardstock, stamp the "Congratulations" and adhere this piece to the inside of the card.  Then adhere some Sparkling Clear sequins on the front and you are done!!  

Supplies Used:
Basic Gray Satin Ribbon by StampinUp (124326)
Silver 1/8" Ribbon by Stampin Up (132137)
Memento Black Ink Pad
Black Cardstock 4.25" x 11" scored in half at 5.5"
Two pieces of White Cardstock 4" x 5.25"

I hope you have enjoyed this quick and easy card!!  

You still have time to enter a card of your own if you want to. Just go to this link and follow the directions!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Hugs from NYC!
~Michael

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

NYC Street Art and Tour


Happy Tuesday everyone.  What a crazy morning.  I am staying with my friend Sue while in NY and we were up until almost 2am in her craft room.  Me - preparing the kits for the baby mini album I am doing this Saturday and next week.  And Sue - working on some ideas for her Etsy shop.  Today it is rainy and gross so it will be back to Sue's craft room for most of the day.

Just wanted to share some more photos from this weekend's traipse around lower Manhattan.  On Friday night, after the Chinese food at Wo Hop, I noticed lots of cool street art on buildings and told Justin that Sunday would be Little Italy day to get these shots in the daytime.

We took the train down to the new Cortlandt Subway station.  This was one of the stations that was closed for a long time after 9-11.  Found some amazing tiled art on the wall that just mesmerized me.





Then we started to walk towards Little Italy, through Chinatown again.  Saw so much cool street art.  On walls, on light posts.  








After this we stumbled upon a street art festival going on.  Some of the pieces were very cool and the "street art" on the walls just boggle my mind.  







And these photos below are just some cool shots from walking around the streets.  It was nice to be a tourist again for the day and get to experience NYC without the need to rush around.  

I met Batman on the street.

A cool poster on the side of a construction site.

Alley in Chinatown.

Mulberry Street in the heart of Little Italy.

Crazy stuff for sale on Mulberry Street.

The door to 214 Lafayette Street.
Well, I hope you enjoyed these photos and my little day trip through lower Manhattan.  As always, thanks for stopping by the blog.

Hugs from NYC!!
~Michael



Monday, August 10, 2015

Cherry Blossoms in a StenDoodled Vase by Joggles


Good morning everyone and Happy Monday.  NOT!  LOL.  Had a great time in the city again yesterday traipsing through Little Italy, SOHO, and lower NYC.  I will post photos tomorrow.  But I really wanted to share this card I made the other day.  It feels like forever since I made one of my StenDoodled designs. The idea came to me when I saw a stencil of different "vases and urns" from Joggles.com and had to get this done.  

I cut a piece of white cardstock 4" x 5.25".  I positioned the cherry blossoms image on the card knowing that I was going to pop dot the vase.  Stamped the image with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored in with Copic markers.  Then I took a scrap piece of white cardstock and traced the vase I wanted to use.  Then I went back and traced the other stencils within the vase.  I used a Copic Multiliner pen knowing that I was going to color with more Copics.  

Once done, I cut the vase out, traced around the outside with a black Copic, applied some pop dots to the back and layered it under the Cherry Blossoms.  Stamped the phrase and added a few half pearls and some stickles in the center of the flowers and on the vase. Then I layered it on an A2 card front and it was done!

You guys know my love of stencils and this was the first time I used any from Joggles.  I think they are a great price and a great quality - right up there with the bigger names.  I love sharing a new product or brand when I come across one and this is one of them!!  

Hope you guys liked the card and grab some stencils soon to do some StenDoodling!!

Hugs from NYC -
~Michael

Products I used: 

Copic Markers
Stickles from Ranger
Half Pearls from my stash


Sunday, August 9, 2015

NYC on a Beautiful Night


Hey everyone.  Just wanted to share some fun photos from yesterday.  After working all day at The Ink Pad, it was time to have some fun as a "tourist".  Started by heading over to Warby Parker for some new glasses.  After trying on a few styles and asking both stramgers and friends for their advice, I went way out of my comfort zone and settled on these.  


If you need glasses with amazing prices and unbelievable customer service, check them out at www.warbyparker.com!

Then we  walked around the meatpacking area where I found this cool piece on the wall of an old butcher.  


Then we started to walk downtown along The Hudson River path.  Got some really nice photos of the sun setting as well as lower Manhattan and the new Freedom Tower.



Got to the Financial District (cause I got us lost) but took this cool photo of The New York Stock Exchange.


Even though my feet were killing me, I was a trooper and we kept going.  We were heading to Wo Hop, a chinese restaurant that Justin swore was the best in the land.  Well, he was right.  Went to the downstairs one.  The walls were so cool.  Like a giant mixed media project gone awry.  But oh so very cool.

 



With a full belly and my feet throbbing, we walked through Little Italy to get the subway back to Kim's apartment, where I feel asleep and had the best night's sleep ever!  Going back to Little Italy today to get some cool shots so look for that post soon!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Hugs from NYC -
~Michael

Happy (Pizza) Pi Day | Sketch Challenge 19 with Tawny Owl Paperie | Inky Inspriation

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