Winter Grass

I have to admit that I am okay that our lawn is dry and brown right now…it is way better than having green grass underneath snow.  I think the birds do fly south for the winter because I still do see birds and I hear them every morning.  The ducks have been happy swimming in the pond near our home.  This card was is another card that will go into my MIL’s box of cards.  It was inspired not only by what I see out my front window (Dried Grasses), but my overall card was inspired by a card over at Splitcoaststampers that I really like.

I’m really enjoying how the bird’s tail is extended by the use of the stencil.  I know it is hard to tell in the photo, but the bird and the tail are sparkly with shimmer mist.  So fun when the light captures it!

Stamps: Established Elegance, Happy Harmony(Retired) 
Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
Ink: Marina Mist, Early Esspresso
Accessories: Hemp Twine, Seam Binding – Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso 1/8” Taffeta, Vicotria Crochet Trim, Basic Pearls
Tools: Paper Piercer, Mat, Vintage Ornaments Decor Stencil, Sponge, Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive, 1” Circle Punch, 1-1/4” Circle Punch, Crimper, Shimmer Mist, Spritzing Tool, Distressing Tool, Bird Builder Punch, Corner Rounder
Technique(s): Direct to Paper, Sponging, Seam Binding Rosette, Shimmer Mist

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

Stampin’ Up! Stamp Set Flashback

I’m still working on that box of cards for my MIL.  It is nice to have sketches to follow when you are making a box of individual cards. I have two cards to share with you today.

I spent some time cleaning up my stamp room yesterday.  As I only had a 4 inch square of usable space left to create I figured it was about time to get busy cleaning. As I was cleaning I came across some of my Stampin’ UP! fabrics and some of my favorite retired stamp sets.  It’s amazing the things that you find when you’re better organized!  *smile*

This first card uses the Mojo Monday 219 sketch from this week.  I’ve been wanting to incorporate fabric on a card and this card does just that!  I decided to add various textures to the card, so you’ll notice the fabric is bunched in places rather than simply laying flat like paper.   I was able to create that texture, by using the Stampin’ Up! multipurpose adhesive sheets.  It makes you want to touch it, doesn’t it? 

Stamps: Circle of Friendship (Retired)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Newsprint Designer Series Paper(retired)
Ink: Jet Black Stazon 
Accessories: Timeless Portrait Designer Series Fabric, Hemp Twine, Vintage Brads
Tools: 1-3/8” Circle Punch, 1” Circle Punch,Decorative Label Punch, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Cropadile, Dimensionals, Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets 
Technique(s): Frayed Twine

This second card uses the sketch challenge for the week from Splitcoaststampers. This card is a non-standard 3.25” x 5.5” card.  It was fun creating with some of my well loved images from the past years.  I know my MIL will love both of these!

Stamps: Well Worn Words (Retired), Echos of Kindness(Retired), Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Red Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Red Riding Hood Red, Old Olive
Accessories: Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware (Retired), Crumb Cake Seam Binding
Tools: Aqua Painter, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder Punch, Small Oval Punch (Retired), sponge
Technique(s): Sponging, Big Shot Embossing

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

Flowers of Best Wishes

I’m still working on a box of cards for my Mother-in-Law.  I’ve become grateful for her December birthday because I have the ability to switch up her birthday and Christmas gift.  That will give me some extra time in getting all the cards done!

I’m sharing with you today, one of the cards that  will be going in her box for Christmas!  This card was inspired by rectangles that I saw stamped on cards.  Amazing how your mind moves when you are creating!

How did I do that?

The top layer was created by adhering various rectangles that were sponged and distressed along the edges to a plain piece of Very Vanilla. This layer was then popped up with dimensionals.

The flower was created by crumpling 5 stamped scallop circles, sponging them and snipping between each scallop almost to the center.  A beautiful neutral glitter brad was inserted in the center

Stamps: Sincere Salutations, Established Elegance
Paper: Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler 
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Quilted Ribbon
Tools: Distressing Tool, Sponges, Scallop Circle Punch, Paper Snips, Dimensionals
Technique(s): Sponging

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

Something old, Something new

Do you remember when you first started stamping and all you could do was beam/scream with excitement when you created your first cards? Okay, I have to admit that that still happens to me when I create something new…not as often as it should, but it still happens.  

I remember how cool I thought the direct to paper technique was when I first began experimenting with altering the blank edges of my cards with an ink pad.  You would have thought that I just won the lottery or something just as cool!  I would be starring at my card, oohing and ahhing, turning it every which way to capture the awesomeness.  You do that too, right?  I became giddy with excitement.  If I know me, and I do, I was probably doing some funky dancing because the happiness was just oozing from my very being.  Okay…I know that may sound extreme…but if you haven’t experienced that before…that is what it is like. And how exciting that I just had one of these moments when I was experimenting again with the Direct to Paper technique! 

Direct to Paper has been around for as long as I have been stamping and probably even longer.  The most I ever did with the technique was run the ink pad over the edges of my paper. Have you ever done that? I’m sure many of you have done the same…loved it and then moved on to another technique.  Well, that technique went by the wayside when I discovered the other fabulous technique of sponging.

Here is a card, that I created with my new found vision of direct to paper.  This card is the first of many cards that my MIL will be getting for her December birthday this year.  I have 15 10 days left to begin creating.  I probably should give it 5 days to ship, huh?

Stamps: Simply Soft (hostess), French Foliage
Paper: So Saffron, Red Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Ink: So Saffron, Red Riding Hood Red, Tempting Turquoise, More Mustard, Jet Black Stazon 
Accessories: Rhinestone, Dimensionals 
Tools: Crimping Tool
Technique(s): Direct to Paper

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

 

This technique is my next featured Technique Series class in December.  If you live in or around the Allen, TX area contact me to sign up or visit my website for other events.

Christmas is in the Air

I’ve been busy holding Christmas Card classes. Although I don’t typically post my cards from these classes, I thought it would fun to share the class favorites and my favorites to celebrate the coming of the holiday season!

Class I Favorite

 

 

 

 

Class I – My Favorite

Gotta love those jingle bells. 

 

 

 

 

Class II Favorite

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class II My Favorite

Love the simple elegance.

 

 

Do you have a favorite?

Enjoy!

Masculine Birthday Blinged with Metal and Rust

There are a couple times a year that I need to create Masculine Cards…Birthdays are just one of those occasions.  I am just like you…trying to figure out which of my stamps to use so that the card doesn’t end up with a flower on it!  *smile*

I’m sure my darling son, Noah, wouldn’t mind either way, but because he loves the Extreme Elements stamp set to make cards for his friends…it was an easy selection this time! He is a typical boy and Blue is his favorite color, so I decided on one of the newest blues, Marina Mist.  Now as blue is not one of those colors that I drift to, I used the Color Coach to help me out!  I love that super tool to help me select the perfect colors, Marina Mist, Cajun Craze and Crumb Cake! I loved these three colors that I selected and the Cajun Craze makes a perfect rust when you use the Direct to Paper technique.

Now, if you are like me you have a bunch of cool embellishments that you are hoarding for that perfect card!  Any type of metal is perfect for a masculine card.  I loved using the game spinner on his card as an element of fun even though it has no use except to introduce movement into the card.

So, do you love how I used the stamp set, Number It, for his age? I have had so many ideas pop in my head for this cool number set!  It is perfect for labeling items around your house too! 

Stamps: Extreme Elements, Netting, Number It 
Paper: Marina Mist, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla Cardstock
Ink: Marina Mist, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake Cardstock
Accessories: Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive
Tools: Color Coach, Paper Snips, Vintage Trinkets (Sm Safety Pin), Game Spinner Hands, Ornament Punch
Technique(s): Direct to Paper, Sponging

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Noah!

Stamping with Gesso

So, I got the hint with all the comments that I was  receiving that many of you have never used Gesso before.  *oops*  Well, I used it for the first time when I stamped on the Muslin Bags that I posted earlier this week.  I have to admit I was a bit vague on how I used the Gesso.  Today, I am here to show you what I did to make the fall leaves muslin bag from start to finish as some of you inquired about the water coloring too.  *smile*

Supplies needed:  Gesso, Paint brush, some cardboard scraps and your muslin bag or fabric piece.

 

Why use Gesso?  When you stamp directly on fabric, the ink is absorbed into the fabric and produces a very light image.  You lose most of the brightness from the colors. By using Gesso, you are creating a “canvas” or surface on which your stamps will adhere and allow for the brightness or true color of your inks to show. 

Question to ask yourself before you get started…can you be patient with drying time?  If you answered “no”…get out your heat gun now!

Step 1: Paint the Gesso on your fabric.  Insert a piece of cardboard under your fabric or inside the bag.  Squirt some Gesso onto another piece of cardboard.  The first time I did this, I painted once in one direction, dried with a heat gun and once in the other direction and then dried with a heat gun.  (I paint vertically each time and turn the fabric.) It worked.  This time, I painted twice in each direction.  So I allowed the Gesso to dry naturally 4 times switching directions each time. The second time it worked better and the surface I created was much smoother.  Play around with the Gesso until you get your desired results.  We learn by trying new things!

Step 2: Dye your fabric. So, I forgot to dye the fabric before I stamped.  I highly suggest that you dye your fabric before stamping.  Warning: My dyeing methods require spritzing or dye wash which could run your water colored image if you dye after you stamp! If you don’t have coffee or tea to stain your fabric. You can create your own dye wash with a bit of water and any of the Stampin’ Up! reinkers. Take a ziploc bag and put just enough water to saturate your fabric.  Add drops of reinker until you get the desired color. Add your bag or fabric into the ziploc and squish around until bag is colored. I hope you know what squishing is!

Step 3: Stamp with Water Color Crayons. Select your Water Color Crayons and color directly onto the stamp. Don’t worry about coloring over the colors, just make sure the entire image is colored.  Now spritz with a water bottle.  I spritzed twice about 3 inches away to get the results pictured.  Stamp on the Gessoed section. When the images were dry, okay almost dry, I stamped the other images in Stazon.

If you noticed, the images blurred together nicely and the lined images are no longer available to see. Try stamping the image with ink again over the water colored images for a more detailed look.

 

This is the completed muslin bag with the Gesso rectangle, coffee dyed and water colored with Stampin’ Up!’s Watercolor Crayons.  Because I dyed after the stamping, some of my colors ran a bit, but I still like the overall look of it.

Thanks to all of you that keep me on the straight and narrow!  *smile* 

Thanks for visiting and I always appreciate comments!

Enjoy!

Pay it Forward with a Gratitude Box

So glad you could make it over to see my newest box creation today.  This gratitude box holds a bunch of tiny cards that you can give out to anyone that makes your day special. I created 12 mini cards, but the box can easily hold twice that! 

I don’t know about you, but I am tired of focusing on “bad” service I receive when I am out.  I have been really trying to pick out the good that I see.  I have given out a couple of these cards to the wonderfully sweet polite Checker at my local grocery store, and to the happy lady at my dry cleaner who always smiles at me even though it is way too early for normal people to be up! *smile*

The 2” x2” cards were specifically designed only for a quick note, not a novel and are a great way to make a connection with the people around you!  With the Anniversary of 9/11 just a few short days behind us, these connections are what holds our country together.  This gratitude box is a great way to thank someone, a friend, neighbor, colleague, or new friend for making your day.

This project was designed for the Paper and Pixels online magazine.  Step-by-Step directions for this box can be found in the September 2011 Edition of Paper and Pixels . I’m thrilled to be a part of their anniversary issue!

All Products are Stampin’ UP! and can be purchased through me directly or via my online demonstrator website.

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Stamps: Elements of Style
Paper: Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper, Crumb Cake Cardstock, Window Sheet
Ink: Versamark, Jet Black Stazon
Accessories: 1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon, Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Antique Brads, Clear Embossing Powder
Tools: Tabletop Paper Cutter, Paper Cutter with Score Blade, Hobby Blade, Ruler and Pencil (household items), Sticky Strip, Paper Snips, Heat Gun

Thank you for stopping by and for your comments!

Enjoy!

 

 

Can you see me doing a happy dance? ;0)

Stampin’ Up! and Muslin Bags

Hello!

It has been a crazy past month and a half with school starting and all the events and excitement that comes when the children are off to school again.  I’ve also been busy designing some of my unique projects for the Seaside Crafts Bulk Buy group, for the upcoming issue of Paper and Pixels, my newest Stampin’ Up! classes as well as some other ventures.  It has been an exciting time and I’m glad that I can start sharing with you what I’ve been busy working on!

Today, I want to share with you one of my favorite new items that is being offered through the Seaside Crafts Bulk Buy group.  I love these muslin bags and they are perfect as card sacks or shower favors, candy bags or whatever you need to contain in a little sack!  A unique way to present a small gift for sure!

Because these little bags are made of cloth they lend themselves to being stained, dyed, or stamped upon. In fact, Regina Andari at Workin’ Out the Inks, even ironed on a My Digital Studio(MDS) creation on one of these for Halloween!  I love that Stampin’ UP! products are a perfect fit for these little cloth treasures!

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How I did that:

The first bag was spritzed with coffee until it was stained to my desired color.  The dress form and dress were glued onto the muslin bag using tombow multi-purpose adhesive. I thought this would be perfect for a wedding shower favor filled with candies.

The second bag was dyed with Stampin’ Up!’s Pool Party reinker and some water.  I used gesso to create a section that I could stamp on.  I used Stampin’ Up!’s Craft style ink to get a truer image over the gesso.  Stamping directly on the muslin with the Stampin’ UP! dye inks works just fine but you’ll get a muted image rather than a sharp image.

I used gesso on the third bag and again used coffee to stain that bag as well.  I used watercolor crayons and the French Foliage stamp to create the watercolored leaves on the gesso. A set of 4 Stampin’ Up!’s 5” x 3.5” note cards and envelopes (107311) fit perfectly in this 5” x 7” bag.

Update:  Check out this post for a tutorial using Gesso.

Thank you for stopping by and for your comments! 

Enjoy!

 

 

Tomorrow the Anniversary issue of Paper and Pixels is out!  Please stop by to see pictures of my Gratitude Box created specially for Paper and Pixels here!

Collaged Butterfly Gift Card Holder

I want to take some time to share with you one of the things that I have been creating.  I’ve been waiting to hear the outcome of the contest I entered before I posted this most recent project. I am overjoyed to say that I placed first in the Seaside Crafts contest!  What an exciting day it turned out to be!  Free Stampin’ Up! product put a big smile on my face for sure!  I have to send out a big THANKS to all the members of the group that voted for this little treasure!

This project features the technique of collage stamping. I used some of my favorite stamps with one of my newest stamps from the 2011-2012 Stampin’ Up! Catalog along with one of the items I picked up through Seaside Crafts – Clear Business Card Holders.  I turned these plain business card holders into a unique gift card holder.  I labored over what colors to use but when I was done, I found this Amazon gift card that fits the colors perfectly.  Don’t you just love that!  Next time I think I find the gift card first. *smile* This gift card holder can easily be turned into a gift that keeps on giving by including several Whisper White note cards. Perfect for any occasion.

Stamps:  Artistic Etchings, Establised Elegance, Silhouette Sentiments (Hostess – Retired 2011)*
Papers:   Whisper White, So Saffron, Basic Black
Ink:  Jet Black Stazon, More Mustard, Soft Suede, Sahara Sand 
Accessories: none  
Tools: Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Sewing Machine with Black Thread, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Embossing Folder, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Big Shot, Mini Glue Dots, Snail
Techniques Used:  Sponging, Collage Stamping

*All products can be ordered directly through me or my online Stampin’ UP! website with the exception of items labeled as retired.

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

 

 

This project will be featured in my Collage Stamping technique class in September.  Interested and live in the Allen, TX area?  Contact me directly for details.

Wondering of Wisteria

I don’t think I ever used the word Wisteria in my life but alas this is one of the new colors that you can look forward to with the new 2011-2012 idea book and catalog in a few short days – Wisteria Wonder is a new In Color that will be added to the purples! You can bet, I’ll be on the look out for “Wisteria” when I play Words with Friends!

I was doing some research on my new Herb Expressions stamp set.  Did you know that Thyme, Basil and Rosemary, in addition to the familiar purple of Lavender, all have purple flowers? Each is rather distinct in its own purple color, but I do believe that the current Stampin’ Up! color pallet will cover all the necessary purples to color in those gorgeous herbs! 

This square card 4.25 x 4.25 card uses the Mojo 197 sketch.  I turned the main panel and this is one of those times that I actually stamped the greeting on the inside. It reads “Thanks for blessing my life with you.” This set has perfect greetings for each of the herbs.

The edges of the main panel are sponged deeply with more mustard, soft suede and early espresso.  I love the richness of the mustard in addition to the browns.  I masked the words from the basil image so that I could stamp them separately to fit the sketch.  The lined image was watercolored with the aquapainter…quick and easy using ink from the lid of the ink.  Of course, I added a little cut out of one of the basil leaves…I thought it was the perfect little touch.

Stamps:  Herb Expressions
Papers:   Wisteria Wonder (New 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog), Very Vanilla, First Edition DSP
Ink:  Jet Black Stazon, More Mustard, Soft Suede, Early Esspresso, Wild Wasabi, Concord Crush
Accessories:   Dimensionals, Linen Thread 
Tools: 1-3/8" x 5/8" Oval Punch (Last Chance List-Sold Out), Paper Snips, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Aquapainter 
Techniques Used:  Sponging, Tearing, Masking

Many of the items on the Last Chance list are selling out…get your stamps and accessories while they are still available. Last Chance items are available through June 30, 2011.

Thank you for taking the time to visit!  Enjoy!

 

 

I am sure you figured out that I am not much of a plant person…I want to be…I just kill most of them.  This is a photo of my second Texas kill. I killed the yellow rose that sat in here when we first moved in. I think it may have lasted two weeks.  This one only lasted about a week. I thought I had finally mastered the plant thing but, I guess I need more practice.  My husband bought me two new plants for my birthday last week.  Any bets?  

A Little Sunshine

Saying goodbye to Tart and Tangy

A little bit of sunshine is what any person that is feeling under the weather needs!  This card is a response to just that…a sweet little get well card!  Tart and Tangy is a cute little set that is perfect on its own or just plain fun when paired up with an unexpected set, like Morning Cup.

It’s been some time since I made a pocket card but one thing lead to another and this “extra little something” pocket card came to be.  The orange slice became my background for the “card front”.  I used a vellum strip to create the pocket with no worries of adhesive showing through!  I just created a larger strip and folded it behind the large Whisper White panel and voila…no glue marks!  Do you ever amaze yourself and wonder why you hadn’t thought of that before?

This little pocket card holds an extra surprise, orange-tangerine tea, the perfect accompaniment to the orange and tea cup stamps! The tea bag is held inside a glassine envelope to keep it fresh…for how long I do not know! *smile* I would suggest placing the tea bag in when you know you are going to give the card!  The strawberry,cherry or apple would also be perfect stamps if you have those flavors of tea available!

Stamps:  Tart and Tangy(2011 Last Chance), Morning Cup, Sincere Salutations
Papers:   Whisper White, Night of Navy, Peach Parfait, Vellum
Ink:  Peach Parfait, Night of Navy
Accessories:   Dimensionals, Glassine Envelope 
Tools: Eyelet Border Punch, 1-1/4” Circle Punch
Techniques Used: Pocket Card

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy!

A Great Friend in Matchbox Messages

The Same But Different

So do you wake up in the morning and ponder what am I going to wear today?  I am guessing on most days, if you are anything like me, you are on autopilot and you pick out the next item of clothing you can find that is clean without thinking too much about it.  With Noah being out of school, the summer just does that to me.  Everyone will still know me whether I'm wearing the pink ruffled top or the white striped shirt because I’m still the same just different today, right? 

I took that concept into my card making.  I’ve said many times that you can take any stamp set and create about a million plus different cards with it. So, I started by selecting two different sets, Matchbox Messages and A Great Friend to create my cards with today.  I also was inspired by two challenges to help get my brain a pondering.  My first card was inspired by the Simply Less is More One Layer Challenge.  The Matchbox Messages set has two wonderful frames that fit the challenge perfectly.  I chose the vined frame as I love that it is not perfect.  I used reverse masking to place the images inside with a bit of Crumb Cake ink distressing. 

For this second card, I selected this superior example of a card and cased it to make it my own.  I love the bright colors she used, but I think I do better when I stick to some neutrals with a touch of color.  I know you noticed that the main panels are the same but different.  As I am a big fan of gift sets, I think it would be great to create an array of these same but different cards to give as a set.  What do you think?

Stamps:  Matchbox Messages, A Great Friend
Papers:   Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Jet Black Stazon
Accessories:   Dimensionals
Tools: Sheet of Copy Paper, Sponge, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Old Olive and Basic Black Stampin’ Write Markers, Paper Snips
Techniques Used: Reverse Masking, Sponging

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy!