Checking in...

It's going to be kind of quiet around here for a few days - the power supply on our main computer died last night (literally up in smoke!) I'm on my hubby's laptop right now, but it's a pain to transfer photos, etc. The part has been ordered and should be here on Tuesday, so hopefully I'll have lots of fabulous stuff to share by then!

And now back to the little girls...

Have I told you lately that I really like this stamp? Well, this time I kept it really simple. I took two coordinating papers from the MAMBI scrappy chic pad, then stamped the girls (One Smile, smartworks) in going gray craft ink. I embossed it with clear detail EP - it's shiny, but not raised all that much. I accented it with the "together" tag (which I think was from Joann's), tied onto a bit of plain ivory ribbon.

I think it works really well to just let the charm of the image itself come through!

Happy chipboard

I dug out my neglected chipboard for this one. My new mantra seems to be, "I will not hoard!" Anyway, I started out by covering the flower with vanilla craft ink, then Irridescent Ice EP (which is just clear EP with dazzling diamonds glitter already mixed in). I accented the middle with an image from Big Pieces. BTW, don't waste your time trying to glue an accent down to embossed chipboard - go right for the glue dots!

I played around with various colors and patterns for the background, and finally settled on fine lace (almost amethyst stamped on apricot appeal), dotted (certainly celery on very vanilla), and then a soft sky card base (sentiment from Happy Everything, stamped with almost amethyst).

Hope your day is happy!!

Carte Postale Friend

Carte Postale is a lovely set - perfect for simple, elegant cards. The sentiment is from God's Blessing (another favorite). Obviously I went with a very simple color scheme, but I wanted to break it up just a tiny bit, so I dyed some Elizabeth fiber with a Creamy Caramel craft reinker. And then of course there's the corner rounder punch - a small detail that just makes the card look "softer."

And let me say that I am truly thankful for friends who strengthen me with prayers, bless me with love, and encourage me with hope!

From the Heart

I wanted to send some cards out to my former downlines, so the next few cards you'll be seeing are all going to be Stampin' Up! This one uses one of my favorite sets - Heartfelt Thanks. I also used the Aida cloth and Paisley backgrounds. The sentiment is from Holidays & Wishes, and I used the stamp-a-ma-jig to line it up on the rounded tab punch. The green accent piece is "paper flannel." Basically you just take a piece of cardstock and repeatedly crumple it until the fibers have broken down and it begins to separate. You then pull it apart and have two pieces to work with! I love the soft texture it gives. As a final touch, I accented the tab with two copper brads (from the hardware set).

Flower Fresco

Last night five of us got together to celebrate a friend's birthday, and I volunteered to make a card (imagine that!). I started with a large Fabriano card so there would be enough room for us all to sign it, and then used this large image (Anemone Fresco by Paper Inspirations). I've had this stamp for over a year now, but sadly must admit that yesterday was the first time it had been inked. And it may be the last as well. When I purchased the image, I paid more attention to the label than the rubber, and assumed that the image had some open space for coloring. Well, that's not the case! The flower is completely solid, so I needed to apply color to the stamp. Started out with water color crayons, but there are so many fine details that it didn't work out too well. After several more attempts, I finally settled on using my Versamagic dew drop pads, and then stamped it onto damp watercolor paper. After it was dry, I went back over it with my waterbrush and WC crayons. I do like how it turned out, but it was way too time consuming. Sentiment is from SU (It's About Time set), and the ribbon and charm were from my stash.

Coppery Girls

So here's a card that took me about four days to make. It all started with the shimmery piece. I was working on another card, and wanted some gold cardstock to use as an accent. The stuff I had wasn't the right tone, so I thought I'd try making my own with Brilliance ink. Still not quite right, so I dumped on a bit of Pearl-Ex. When I started buffing off the excess, though, I discovered an issue. I had used a scrap of glossy white paper, and evidently when I was using it the first time around I had left behind some serious finger prints - which were now acting as a resist as my ink/Pearl-Ex mix was coming right off. OK, so it won't work for the other project, but it does look pretty neat! I buffed it up more, and then stamped it with the script image that comes with these darling little girls (One Smile, smARTworks).

So now on to my focal image. I tried a variety of inks and papers, and finally settled on this super simple version. I had added some color accents (sort of like my previous card) but it clashed with the background piece. Put it aside to use later and stamp yet another! I then wanted to embellish - I pawed through my little box, and came upon this copper snap that says "Friends Forever." (Sorry, but I have no clue where it came from) Just deciding where to put that was another issue... OK, finally have that taken care of. So I have my basic elements - now what am I going to do? Settled on layering the little girls with some artichoke cardstock (SU) to pick up the green I used on the script, then a banana (SU) card base. But the base looks too stark. Don't want to add too much pattern, though. Another stamp to the rescue! (Marble, smARTworks). I stamped it with Antique Linen distress ink - dark enough to show up , but still subtle. It still needs just a little something. Ooh, copper cord would pull it together nicely! I wrapped it around a few times, then finally glued it all together.

Whew! Now I still need to figure out what I'm going to do for gold cardstock with that other card...

Encouraging Impressions

Admit it - you're always on the lookout for new sentiments to add to your stamp collection. Well, there's a new kid on the (mounting) block!! Sarah Kornhaus - one of my imaginary stamping friends, as my hubby would refer to her - is now selling original rubber stamps. Check out her first full plate, including sentiments such as "Let the joy of the Lord be your strength!" and "Remember: The Proverbs 31 woman had servants!!" See it for yourself here.

Thinking of You

Tall cards are certainly popular these days, so I hopped on the bandwagon and made this quickie for a friend. It measures 8 1/2 x 3 3/4, so fits in a standard legal envelope. I just used some paper from the BasicGrey Scarlet's Letter collection, then added some ribbon (May Arts, I think). The sentiment is SU - it's from Handwritten Hellos, an incentive set that was offered five or six years ago. I love the font they used and always wished they had more sets like it. I thought the writing style coordinated nicely with the script in the paper.

Have a great day!

Are you in the Philly area?!?

If you're in this area, then you definitely don't want to miss out on this sale! It's being hosted by Christian Life Center in Bensalem (directions here) on Saturday, September 8 from 9 AM - 2 PM. It will be at the Edge building, and as you enter the parking lot you'll see it off to the left.

I have bunches of stuff to sell off - two tables worth, in fact. Unmounted images, SU sets, other woodmounts, scrapbook paper, albums, punches, templates... You name it, I probably am selling it! If you have stuff you'd like to get rid of, please feel free to email me for more info. Tables are $20 (which will go toward their youth ministry), and you keep whatever you sell that day. Much better option than racking up eBay fees!

Really hoping we can get a big turnout for this. Would love to see it become an annual event!!

Vintage Friend

Another card made with my new stamps from smARTworks. Aren't these little girls precious?!

I stamped them with Versamagic Jumbo Java ink, then added a bit of color with the Pebbles Pearlescent chalks. I just love the shimmery effect that they give! I then trimmed it with decorative scissors (so glad those are becoming "cool" again!). I covered the card base with squares from the BasicGrey Urban Couture collection, then finished it off with a photo turn, a single word (taken from the original saying: Friendship grows one smile at a time), and a prima flower.

smARTworks Bluebird

I'm really liking this sketch idea - stretches me and helps me look at patterns and images in a new way. Well, I saw this week's sketch on SCS, and my new bluebird set from smARTworks immediately came to mind simply because of the orientation of this sentiment. Sounds like a great reason to make a card, right?!

I started by stamping the bird - and then I stared at it. Off to google "bluebird" to see how it should look (please tell me I'm not the only one who does crazy stuff like that...) OK, now I can color! Pulled out the prismacolors, then trimmed around the bird so that some parts were coming out of the square. Debated about what to use for the background, and ended up dry embossing some mustard cardstock with the Fiskars woodgrain plate (using my Big Shot). Nice texture and still keeps with the nature theme! Finally, I stamped the sentiment, layered it on not quite navy cardstock, then tied on a bit of that brown mesh ribbon that I seem to be using on everything lately. Not all that much left of it, so I promise to give it a rest soon!

Poppy Trust

OK, I went waaaaaay out of my comfort zone on this one. Have I mentioned recently that orange is my absolute least favorite color? Well, I love this poppy stamp (Stampendous) so of course that led to red and orange tones. The strip across the bottom was definitely inspired by the sketch I used last week (this card). The card base is stamped with Aida cloth background (SU), and the patterned papers are DCWV. Finished off with a clip and a snippet of ribbon, then added the verse (Morningstar).

RAK!

I received this lovely card last week from Allison but then forgot to post it. Isn't it gorgeous? Love the way she made photo corners with the scalloped square punch!

Bella Baby

We have another baby event to attend today, so I made this Bella Baby card. The expectant mom is absolutely darling, and this is perfect for her.

I stamped her, then masked off her feet and grounded her with the oval (smARTworks). Colored with Prismacolor pencils. I really like how I turned out, but I need to play around with blending colors. I layered the image with BasicGrey Blush papers, mesh ribbon (AMM), and tied on a little baby block charm that I had in my stash.

Now I just need to wrap the gift!

Blossom Hello

Was browsing some blogs last night, and stopped by Stampin' When I Can. Allison is the place to find out what's happening in stamping blog-land! Well, she posted a card she made with a sketch from i{heart}2stamp. It's a great layout, and as soon as I saw it I wanted to make a card with the smARTworks blossoms.

I pulled out some BG Infuse paper (love those 6 inch paper pads!) and narrowed it down to two patterns. Next I stamped the blossoms on vellum, then trimmed them and mounted them on the small square. I'm very happy to report that a standard office brad fits perfectly in the center! I made the little hello tag using the SU key tag and horizontal slot punches. Tied it on with a bit of brown mesh ribbon (AMM), then glued it all down. Great layout, and I'll definitely be using it again.

Suh-weeeeeeet!!!!!!!

OK, big news to share today!

First some back story... In the last year or so, it seems design teams have really been on the rise. Or maybe I was just becoming more aware of them through the blogosphere! Well, I thought it would be a really neat thing to do so started paying more attention to design calls. Hadn't actually applied for anything, though. There were several companies that I considered, but once I really looked at all their images I chose not to pursue it. And then there was another team that I thought sounded good, but the call was in December. Um, lousy timing! Anyway, back in May I learned that smARTworks was getting a team together. I'd been introduced to their lovely designs through the fabulous Dina, had browsed their online catalog, and was planning on putting together a good sized order later in the summer when things had calmed down a bit. After talking it over with my hubby, I decided to go ahead and apply. I made it through the first round, and then received some images to make samples for the final decision. Sent them off, and awaited final word. I wasn't chosen, but was asked to be a Guest Designer. Yes, I was a bit disappointed but still super excited. And then Tuesday afternoon I got an email: there'd been a change with the team, and the position was mine if I was still interested. Uh, you betcha!!

So I'm now officially one smART Cookie! (Love that name!) You'll definitely be seeing a lot more of their beautiful images in the months ahead, but for now I'm going to share the cards I submitted for the final round. I must say, these images would not have been my first choice, but it was really fun to challenge myself - and now I absolutely love them!

This first card was created with the crayon resist technique. Sponged on some various colors, then layered with black and Bazzill Bling. The chipboard letter was from Joann's, and covered with Pearlescent Orchid brilliance ink.

This second card is definitely my favorite. I used paper scraps (BasicGrey Perhaps), and assembled them in strips (technique courtesy of Dina). I stamped and embossed the flowers on vellum carstock, then layered them and finished the bloom off with a large rhinestone.

The last card didn't work out quite like I had envisioned, but I still really like the basic idea. I used a punch to create the envelope from vellum cardstock, then "planted" poppy seeds. I also broke up the sentiment using my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (seriously, if you don't already have this tool, you don't know what you're missing! It is a MUST HAVE!). The inside was finished off with flowers stamped on watercolor paper, then trimmed and mounted.

My next batch of rubber has already been shipped, so watch for more goodies! And in the meantime, be sure to check out the smARTworks blog: In the Works.

Scraped Oil Pastels

Had some fun playing around with another technique from the newest TJ Newsletter. I knew I had a basic set of oil pastels (I think I picked them up on clearance last year for under a buck - no idea what I'd do with them but it was a good deal. Do you understand why my craft space is so heaped up?!), so went to town with blues, greens, and a bit of brown. The images are all from Time to Stamp, and the accent piece was cut with a Cuttlebug die.








After I finished the card, I had some scraps left - pretty small, but too pretty to just toss - so I pulled out some other dies and made some ATCs. Simple but fun! Stamp is from Serendipity.

World Card, Take 2

I pulled apart the "ugh" card from Friday, and went with this super simple design. It's now a 4 1/4" square, and looks so much better!!

So Kind

Cranked out another fairly simple card late last night. I stamped the little bouquet (Rusty Pickle), punched it out, then colored it with the Prismacolor pencils. I layered it with some paper from the BasicGrey Phoebe collection (also embossed using the Ellison weave #2 plate), accented with Autumn Leaves ribbon and added the sentiment (Wordsworth). I thought it needed a little something more, so the final touch was some Stickles on the flowers. Bright and happy!!

Bless You

Using up some scraps from the baby card - I had originally embossed the blue panel and gone over it with ink, but it looked terrible on the other card. Couldn't let it go to waste, though!

I cut the flowers (Cuttlebug dies) out of 2 browns and coral. Added wire stems, and tied it off with ribbon. The blue panel looked really stark on the brown base, so I added a bit of white (DTP with distress antique linen). I stamped with card base with Aida Cloth (SU) using white versamagic ink just to add some texture, and the sentiment is from Wordsworth.