Month: October 2008

Urban Prairie Thank You!

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Colorful isn’t it?  That’s what it’s all about! Color!!  There was a fun challenge on SCS on Tuesday daring us to use Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss and Pixie Pink.  I wasn’t sure if these colors would work for me, but that is what a challenge is all about.  Do you know I’ve only recently started to use brighter colors?  I love color, but I usually go with more muted tones.  This time, I embraced it whole heartedly and made the colors the focus of the piece. What do you think?  Should I use more of these brighter colors? I love bold bright colors when other stampers use them, but I tend to shy away from them.   But, I guess that is what is great about challenges, it really draws you out of your comfort zone and forces you to be a little more adventurous. I stamped this adorable chubby bird from Inkadinkado Birds Galore set on Urban prairie basic Grey dp and cut it out. I popped him up on 3D dots just above …

Not So Random Acts of Kindness!

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Hi all! I wanted to share some of the generous spirit of the blogging/stamping world around me, and show you these fabulous not so random, acts of kindness! First off, I received this award from Els (the good witch 😉 ) who is a very talented crafter, and has a wonderful blog to share her ideas with us all!  Please do take the time to visit her blog and leave her a comment.  She’s so sweet.   Thanks Els, for thinking of me!  I’m so glad that you feel inspired by what I do, and you must know that I feel the same about your work too. I would like to pass this on to these inspiring bloggers (there are so many but I chose 6 for now): Le Blog de Scrapmumur,  Sandy, Tabitha, Kes, Sammacco, JenMarie Thanks for the inspiration! Next are some beautiful cards from some more talented ladies!  The first is from a friend who doesn’t blog (YET) but she does have her own Stampin’ UP! web site.  Colleen is the one who …

Feature Presentation

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I cased this week’s Featured Stamper, Kay (SpeedyStamper) on SCS.  HERE is her lovely card, if you would like to take a peek. This is what I came up with… The changes I made: I added a layer, changed the stamp, embossed the background, left off the sentiment, and changed the ribbon from pink to sheer black. I love this embossing folder, and I really love how it looks on this pearly white Bazzill Oyster paper!  I was asked to make an engagement card for someone, so I thought this would work out nicely.  I used  a Verve heart stamped in black and colored in with pink.  I like using black for a touch of elegance.  What do you think? Stamps: Verve Paper: Bazzill Oyster, Basic Black, Pink Pirouette, Ink: Archival Ink Jet Black Accessories: Sheer Black ribbon, scallop punch, cuttlebug, floral fantasy folder, MS pink marker Techniques: dry embossing Thanks for stopping in! It means a lot to me that you do!  Have a great day!

A Christmas Greeting!

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I was inspired to make this Christmas card using this beautiful sleigh from the Flourishes Sleigh Ride set.  I love this gorgeous set!  It also comes with a regal looking reindeer and some lovely sentiments.  A few other Christmas sets have caught my eye too from Flourishes! Hmm, If only money fell from the sky like snowflakes…I would own them all!! I am so pleased with how this turned out.  I love making long, tall cards! This one will fit in a business size envelope.  I made this card with the Stamp Simply Challenge in mind which was to make a flat card, with no lumps or bumps for NO EXTRA Postage…well, the card is flat, there are no bows, brads, eyelets or primas etc, (layers are o.k. ) BUT, I realized after I had made it, that the long/tall aspect of the card might just require extra postage!! OOPS! I’m actually not sure, do any of you know?  If you do can you tell me, because I find the whole postage issue quite confusing! …

Donna’s Campaign For Creativity!

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Hi everyone, just a quicky today! I wanted to tell you about the Campaign For Creativity that Donna Downey has started!  You may have noticed the pretty blue badge on the right?  Donna created it as a reminder to listen to our inner creative voice.  Inspiration, and possibility is all around us, and embracing our potential, enjoying the creative process, and sharing it with others is a gift we can all appreciate!  Click on the badge to learn more about this in Donna’s own words. And now on to my card for today!   I made this as a double sketch and color challenge on Splitcoast Stampers. I stamped Fresh Cuts from Stampin’ Up! in Chocolate chip on Pink Pirouette card stock, then cut a third of it off.  I used that piece for my bottom panel. I colored in the swirls and leaves with my blender pen and VersaColor Green Tea ink. The Shamrocks are stamped repeatedly on the side panel in the same color ink. I’m so glad you came by! Have a creative …

Baby it’s Cold Outside

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Ooh baby it’s cold outside…winter is coming folks, whether we like it or not! I always think of the song Baby it’s Cold Outside when I hear or say those words. I love the version with Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan.  Follow the link for a classic record player version.  Something about the scratchy record that just adds to the feel of the song! Yes, it really is cold today, there were even a few flakes this morning! I had to take out the mits and hats, and I realized I will have to shop for more.  I always think I have plenty of time to get these things, and then I end up scrambling to buy  winter coats, mits and hats all in one weekend, because I need them and I need them now!  Every year. I just don’t learn. Anyway, with cold weather on my mind, I have made a couple of Holiday things and thought I’d share them with you all.  I hope it’s not to early for you!  🙂 I love …

Altered Canvas Wall Decoration

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What a rainy dark day here! Yuck. I don’t mind rainy days, but the lack of light drags me down!  So I thought I’d focus on something light and airy like today’s altered canvas that I want to show you all! I made this with some inspiration from a friend who was over the other day.  She brought over some molding paste and canvas, and off we went!!  What fun this was to do! I think I may have to explore this type of altered art further… I really enjoyed mucking around with the molding paste. The paste went on first, one blob (very precise), and then spread with a credit card across the canvas.  This canvas is 8×8″. Using a foam stamp, I stamped my background pattern, which in this case is a square pattern, randomly into the paste.  It helps if you lightly dampen the stamp first.  The paste is actually a bit too thick in some parts, as i noticed the stamped image is cleaner and sharper in thinner areas. The hard …

Flowers for my Friends!

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I had such a good Saturday! I got my housecleaning caught up (almost :)) and we all raked leaves together, which I have decided I quite enjoy, especially when the weather is as beatuiful as it was yesterday! It was sunny and cool, but not cold, and the whole time we were raking there was the smell of a wood fire in the air, which I just love! The boys were pitching in too, while my older one was raking, my little one was picking up the leaves and putting them in a play wheelbarrow to bring to the garbage.  So cute. Then in the afternoon, I spent some time with a friend I’ve met through splitcoaststampers.  She is such a sweet lady, and so talented.  As soon as she arrived, she set out her plan for the afternoon, pulling out a copy of Stamper’s Sampler, molding paste, stamps, glimmer mists and cheesecloth! lol!  It was a fun afternoon, let me tell you!!  It’s still a work in progress, but I hope to have mine …

For You, an Inspired Challenge

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It’s Saturday!! Yeah it’s the weekend!! I hope it’s off to a great start for all of you.  I am posting now, because I have a very busy day ahead! Lots of leaves to rake, and the kids want to decorate for Halloween! 🙂 This is the card I made for the inspiration challenge on Splitcoast. Wow what a wonderful Etsy shop gallery that is!! Have a peek HERE.  Lots fo gorgeous stuff to inspire your creativity!  I chose this pillow as my inspiration piece for today’s card. I stamped the background with the Cornish Heritage Farms Canvas backgrounder in close to cocoa. Then overstamped Stampin’ Up! Upsy Daisy in Walnut Stain ink. The sentiment scallop (SU!) is stamped in Chocolate chip. This was my second card for the limited supply challenge too.  We were limited to eyelets and a ribbon for embellishment. Stamps: Upsy daisy, Say it with scallops, Canvas backgrounder Paper: Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Walnut Stain, Accessories: brass eyelet, Choc. chip grosgrain ribbon, scallop punch Have …

Child’s play!

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Here’s a few cards that my sweet boys cased! 🙂   They got busy with these last week, when they were home sick from school.  They had so much fun!  I just helped with the leaf punch for my 4 yr old.  I love what they came up with! Are your kids counting down the days to Halloween? Mine are!!  They have their costumes ready and this year, they want to fill pillow cases full of candy! YIKES, I’ve got the dentist appointments lined up already… Isn’t this AWARD cool too?  I received this from Alina’s blog.  She has such a great blog, you should treat yourself and have a look! I’d like to pass this on to all you fabulous stampers that take the time to leave inspiring comments for me here!  Thanks to you all! You are the best!! I’ve been tagged twice now, by Jodi, and Julie, and it’s about time I reply with 7 little known facts about myself! Here goes: 1. I just realized that I have been stamping for 1 …