Riley Design Challenge!

Hi Riley Fans! 
Hope you're all ready for today's challenge, and I'm proud to say that I'M hosting it!!!
My challenge is a School/Team Spirit sort of theme. Basically, to celebrate the start of school, the football and hockey season, or post season baseball...make something that shows spirit for either a school or Sport team ie: (your alma mater, kid's high school, using your favorite sports team colors/Riley sport stamps, etc) 

For my card I decided to use Hockey Riley since the season is just right around the corner!
 
I keep in touch with several of my former players and this was a card I made for Freddy who played for the minor league team I interned for a couple years back.


So this was a birthday-ish card for him, but really its a "just because" card, and boy was I excited to use my Riley Hockey Stamp!  I based the colors off of the Ontario Reign colors, and colored his jersey in to look like their orange ones.  He's number 12 so I cut those out using the Sure Cuts A Lot Software.  The dark blue background was cuttlebugged using the argyle folder, and the card was triple matted (the Riley one was popped up).  Riley was colored in with Copics, his skates were colored in with my Sakura gelly roll silver pen, and the ice got a little bit of Stickle treatment!  I added a couple brads, because what's more manlier than brads?!

On the back, I added the Ontario Reign logo using Sure Cuts A Lot to cut out a picture I found online. I have to admit, I was pretty proud of how well it came out compared to the real logo.

Sorry for the blurry image!  I guess I just wanted to make mine look better ;)

Freddy in action  

Be sure to check out the other members of the Riley Design team to see what they've come up with!!!  I hope you enjoyed this challenge!

Klinker

So one of my favorite baseball players, Matt Klinker, is having a bit of a rough season and has been stuck in a rut playing for the same team he spent the majority of his time with last year (in minor league baseball you want to be continually moving on up in the system).  Needless to say, he's a little frustrated (in the game, we like to call it "being salty") so I figured I'd try to give him a little pick me up and maybe it'll give him the boost to get him back up to AAA.  

Right now he plays for the AA team for the Cincinnati Reds, the Carolina Mudcats, so I decided to stick with that theme!  I used the pitcher from Kenny K digital stamps and modify it so it fits their jerseys.  I heat embossed using clear embossing powder a little Michaels dollar bin baseball stamp over the background to give a subtle pattern.  Using Sure Cuts A Lot, I cut out a wonky square shape as well as the Reds logo so the red would show through.  I also cut out his jersey number as well using Sure cuts a lot.  The card base is using Papertrey ink cardstock in smokey (I LOVE THIS STUFF FOR BASES) and cuttlebugged the diamond plate pattern.  I added Recollection brads for some bling and that was the front!

The Back I used Inkscape and svg. the Mudcats logo into three cuts and cut them out using Sure Cuts a Lot.  Klinker's name is also cut out using the Sure Cuts A Lot and the background was cuttlebugged with the Diamond Plate folder as well.  

Because Matt is so salty right now I figured I'd help him balance it out with some sweets by making him some cookies!  

He loved everything.  So this is an insight of some characters that I get to deal with everyday.  Klinker on the other hand is a pretty 'special' person anyway.  Needless to say, he doesn't take himself seriously.

This is what he normally looks like =)  I don't mind him either way =)

T-town Never Down

This is a very special project for me that I have for you today.  On April 27th, 2011,  a F-5 tornado tore through Tuscaloosa, AL where the University of Alabama is located.  The tornado killed 50+ people, injured hundreds, and left thousands with absolutely nothing left.  This touched me deeply because the University of Alabama was where I went to undergrad for 4 years.  It shaped a lot of who I am and where I met my 3 lifelong friends.  Going back, I was stricken by how so much had changed and how whole neighborhoods were gone.

View from where my sophomore year dorm use to be

Aerial view of the path of destruction of the tornado

Worse yet, hearing the personal stories from friends still at the University really touched a soft spot in me.  As an athletic trainer, I worked hand in hand with the University of Alabama athletics.  If you're from the South, you would know how all consuming sports, especially Football is to the state of Alabama.  Sports Illustrated released an article, with the cover story being about the effect of the Tornado.  Reading the article, it saddened me to hear about how one of my former football players girlfriend was killed in the tornado.  They were taking cover in a closet and she was tragically ripped from his arms.  Also hearing about how two of my former baseball players, who I had just seen less than a month before when we played them IN Tuscaloosa, had lost everything was just heartbreaking.  If you have the time, please read this well-written article http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1186008/index.htm

Mainly I am so proud of how the athletics has stepped up to help in relief efforts.  They have taken their time out to spend time passing out water and goods as well as helping with the cleanup.  Former players who are now playing in the NFL have also donated thousands of dollars in food and water to help those who have literally be left with nothing. Thanks to Javier Arenas (aka Javy) and all those athletes who are helping to patch things up. 

So now that my season is done and I have some extra time on my hands, I set out on making something to help represent the strenght, spirit, and pride of Tuscaloosa.  Houndstooth has a very special meaning for the University of Alabama because it represents the hat that the legendary football coach, Bear Bryant famously wore at each game.  Every Saturday in the fall, the campus is filled with fans decked out in red and houndstooth...from pretty co-eds to fat old drunken men.  A houndstooth ribbon has become the symbol of support for the relief efforts down in Tuscaloosa.  

 

I used the ribbon off the stand and salute cart, as well as the shadow to make the base and cut it out with the cricut.  I then cuttlebugged the white ribbons with the houndstooth folder and while they were still in the folder, I brayered the ribbon with black ink, kind of like the reverse of this technique shown on youtube  I then used Sure Cuts a Lot to cut out the Alabama A logo and glued it on.  

 

 I didn't think it was enough so I went ahead and used my gypsy to Weld the shadow of the ribbon and banner (also found on the Stand and Salute cartridge) together to make a base.  I then added the words "T-town" which is our affectionate name for Tuscaloosa to the ribbon and cut out two versions (one solid, and one with the letters so it could show through).  I'm not sure which one I like better, the white or red.  Any suggestions?  I wasn't sure if I wanted to make these into cards or just keep them as is and make them into a magnet or even something to hang in my car.  But I may even sell them on etsy and have all proceeds go to a charity of relief for Tuscaloosa.  

Anyway, I know this is a long post but this just meant so much to me, so thanks for all that actually read this.  I'll leave you with pics that show the resilient spirit of the people of T-town.  Roll Tide!

 

So my friend saw the card I made for Freddy and he wanted one too.  Who knew there was a market for hockey cards hahah.  Blair plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning and he's from Canada.  Apparantly he loves moose (but more to hunt them then to color them in with Copics).  I wanted to make it a little bit more simple than Freddy's card, so I just went ahead and Sure Cuts a Lot the Tampa Bay Logo and and matted it.

I colored Hockey Riley in using their Jersey colors and fussy cut him out.  I stickled the ice and added glossy accents to give it an icy feel.  I cuttlebugged the black mat with diamond plating and used a charcoal card base.

Here's Blair in action

All the hockey shots I found of Blair made him look really funny.  I actually prefer him in his suits.  For his sake I'm going to post one of those.  Ignore the beers.

So I'm in Fort Myers for a bit. Just wanted to share a card I made before leaving.  One of my baseball players hurt his back during a game and so I've been spending the last couple of weeks in ER's and doctor's offices.  Our orthopedic spine specialist has been great so I wanted to show him my appreciation by making some cookies and a card.

So Sick Riley has been getting a lot of play these past couple of days!  I colored him in using the South Alabama colors, and I used Sure Cuts a Lot and Cricut to cut out South Alabama's logo.  The Sentiment is printed out and the grey cardstock is cuttlebugged using the Argyle folder.  Simple as always.

My baseball player got his MRI and the doctor's were surprised that he was walking and standing let alone playing baseball (he sat out for the first time in 4 years because he couldn't run).  His herniation was so big that he's the first patient he's had in 20 years that was standing, let alone walking, without surgery.  Keep our fingers crossed and Jake in your prayers!  He's the toughest kid I've ever worked with.

 

Quick card I whipped up for my friend Aaron who is sick.  I met Aaron at a Miss Taiwanese America event, and we've been friends ever since.  His happiness and joy for life just radiates everywhere.  Unfortunately, he's come down with pneumonia, which is especially critical since Aaron has muscular dystrophy.  Luckily, he's was discharged yesterday after being in the hospital for a week.  I fiddled with the look of this card for a bit, and made it during batting practice during our baseball game haha!

 

I used the sick Riley stamp and colored him in with E33 and E37 for shadowing.  

I cut him out using the mini-monograms cartridge at 4 1/4" and the center cut.  I was nervous since it was my first time trying to cut in image out as opposed to stamping on a pre-cut piece!  It came out fine.  It seemed a little plain with just one Riley so I figured...what could be better than...TWO Rileys!  

Sorry I don't have any pictures of coloring in the second Riley (Flowers Riley) and added the mini sentiments from papertrey Ink.  I glued these Rileys on blue mats (also cut out from Mini monograms) and added a dollar bin ribbon.  I cuttlebugged part of the yellow background with spots and dots and the base is papertrey ink in white ( I LOVE the heft!).  The inside was stamped with a wood block stamp I got from a pack at Michaels.  

Here's a pic of Aaron and myself!  I hope he feels better!

Just a little thank you card to thank Topher's Grandparents for sending me their trademark bran muffins and a birthday card for my birthday!  I love them so much and are the quintessential grandparents from New York that you see in the movies!  I've been trying to be a little creative on my layouts while keeping them simple.

So I used the Farmer Riley and Sophie stamp for this card.  Colored them in with Copics, here are the ones I used

For the antlers and hooves, then the ones for their faces

For their clothing, the belt and piewere colored in with E59 and E35 I believe, and the pitchfork and piepanwith my Sakura Jelly Roll Pen

Initially I was planning on a darker and more vibrant green color palette (mainly greens and yellows).  But I found the plaid pattern paper (no idea where it came from) and I thought how lovely it would be and it kind of matched Sophies shirt. Thank goodness I don't get too uppity about colors needing to match exactly.  I cut out the circle from the pale green paper at 4 1/4" from Mini Monograms and then cuttlebugged it with the Bird and Swirls folder.  Matted everything on brown kraft paper and then again on some light blue paper.  I cut the little "bran muffin" from the create a critter cartridge.  They are so yummy toasted and with some butter.  The sentiment is stamped with brown versafine ink and was a wooden stamp set purchased from Michaels one day when I was trying to build up my stamp collection.  

The base was flimsy Recollections white cardstock so I had to reincforce wht inside with another layer of brown cardstock to give it some stiffness.  I printed out a sentiment on the plaid paper to give it some interest and tie it back in.  Not so crazy about it, but it's ok!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I'm a little late in posting this I know....the sad thing is that I'm even later in sending this to Topher!  He'll probably end up getting his valentine's day card in April by the rate I'm going.  So Topher is now down in Ft. Myers for Spring Training.  He's working in the front office with the Boston Red Sox.  To celebrate his new job I made him a little Red Sox Card, Riley included!

I chose the Sweetheart Riley and cut out the little note that he holds on the left.  I used the Sure Cuts a Lot Software and cut a Boston Red Sox logo and had him holding that instead!  Riley is popdotted up along with the Red Sox "B".  The white background is cuttlebugged with the argyle folder and then matted on a Boston red mat.  I added a strip of baseball paper and then sandwiched it between two strips of blue paper.

 

I also made Topher a more traditional V-day card using more traditional colors.  

The little paper stamps were actually from some patterned paper I got from Michaels several months ago.  I cut each one out and matted each on their own little pink mat.  Tried to space them out as evenly as possible.  I then cut out a label....I have no idea where I picked it out from (I seem to forget more often now that I've gotten a Gypsy).  I stamped the background using this dollar bin stamp I have using Tim Holtz Red Brick Distress ink.  Then I stamped the I love you sentiment (I think another dollar bin buy).  I chose a grey background to masculinize it up a bit more and of course cuttlebugged it with my favorite folder of the moment, the argyle folder.  I used plain white cardstock base just because I wanted to keep it from getting too frou frou. 

Sorry for the blurry picture, I really need to get an actual camera instead of always using my iphone!

So this is a set of cards I've been working on for quite awhile.  I started them over the summer and was meaning to give them to some of my former VMI (Virginia Military Institute) athletes who are now stationed all over the country and world.  I wanted to give it to them for 4th of July, and then Veteren's Day, and then Memorial Day...but I just couldn't get them to look the way I wanted.  So FINALLY, I was able to sit down and get everything squared away!  I'll admit, I'm very proud of this set of cards, almost as proud as I am of the people they went to.

So this card is for Jakes who is now stationed in Afghanistan.  He's in the army and so I paper pieced a little camo background for him. The frame and My Hero cut for all of these comes from the stand and salute cartridge.  Military Riley was the stamped I used.  SOOO CUTE AND I LOVE IT!!  I scored the edges for some interest.  Here's a pic of Jakes over there in Afghanistan.

Sorry for the blurry picture.  This is for Lynn, my marine who flys helicopters and is stationed in Pensacola for the time being.  I used patterned paper from Michaels for the inside, and the white frame was cuttlebugged with the diamond plate folder and rubbed with a silver stamp to bring out the pattern.  I used a gold sakura gelly roll pen to color in the anchor.  

Here's Lynn

Last but certainly not least, here's the card I made Tommy who is in the airforce and flying jets in Wichita.  Same diamond plate paper, I just arranged it different, and also added a scored border on his.  

Here's Tommy in his formal wear.

I loved making these cards and the people I made them for.  I think these will be a favorite for a long time coming.