Flourish Thanks

And another sketch makes an appearance! What do you think of this one? It's interesting... My favorite pick from my catalog submissions is done with this sketch. No....it's not this one. But if you guess...it's worth a goodie at the open house!

I used the White cotton Staz-on on clear acetate here. I suppose I could have stamped directly on the cardstock, but I was trying to go for a different look. The flower is "fussy cut" from Genevieve paper.

What the heck is fussy cut? C'mon quilters, help me out here... Fussy cut is making a special cut to get a particular portion of your fabric for a quilt square...

Or in this case, a particular flower going a particular direction in a specific rectangle.

The tag is also from Genevieve and the cardstock base is Raspberry.

I really like the tag tidbits set! Very versatile little sayings that fit almost anywhere...like on this tag. Hmm...do you think maybe it was made for that?

Blowing in the Wind...

...was one of my favorite songs as a kid. (Yes, I know I'm OLD, my husband won't let me forget it!)

This card makes me think of "blowing in the wind." That poor little mouse looks like he's hanging on for dear life! I tried to make it look somewhat like he was being tossed around with the leaves, but I don't think I accomplished that.

Sketch look familiar? Yep, same as yesterday! I scored a couple lines around the saying there also, don't know if you can see it too well in the photo. I like to striped paper from Sands of Time though, they do look somewhat like fall.

Open house is coming up really soon! Have your marked your calender? Have you told all your friends? There will be some new goodies in the prize basket....

Faux Suede & horses...

...just seem to go together, don't they? Yes, here's another one!

This one also used paper from the Rustic Chic collection, but a different card sketch. Which one do you like better? I can't decide!

Happy Trails & Faux Suede

Hey... this looks like yesterday's card. That's right, same sketch!

Yes, the faux suede technique has been around about as long as I've been stamping but I still like it! Especially with the Happy Trails set. I see horses and I can almost smell the leather. I really like doing the liquid applique on a dark cardstock though. It gives that ripped edge lots of appeal.

(Lately I've been thinking the yellow liquid applique would look interesting as a coloring element on a little chick. Hmmm.....)

Simple package

Talk about simple, huh? You all know I like 10-minutes-or-less cards, right? This one is probably a minute or less!! Very simply stamped, smoosh on a dab of chalk, a dash of ribbon, a scrap or two, a rip, a bit of ink, and powza wowza - we're done!

Yes, this was a catalog submission. Probably TOO simple to have made the page though! If I wasn't trying to stick with the guidelines so much, I would have added a sentiment in the upper right corner.

Anchor my ship...or not!

You know, this would actually make a good graduation card. The saying is definitely appropritae....well, maybe not graduation. It would make a good "send off" card to a kid leaving home for college though, huh?

Focus on the Nativity

I wanted to focus on the Nativity scene here. Do you think the other elements add or detract? Perhaps I should have used bolder colors in the scene itself. I like this Snowman Nativity because it has a selection of stamps that tell the story, they can be used in combination to create more than just cards!

Mostly Amelia cardstock used here with just a scrap of Amelia paper as the circle outline.

Lifesaver Lighthouse

I have to admit, this sketch was not one of my favorites when I first saw it...but I needed a challenge and I like the way this card turned out. Now, DH says I should have just used yellow as the light for the entire card, but I kind of like the blue. Afterall, doesn't light fade out to darkness eventually anyway?

The phrase, "you're a lifesaver" I was able to curve a bit on the block to get it to fit nicely around the circle. (Ah, yes! One of the great benefits to using UNmounted rubber stamps!)

I used a piece of leftover pop dots to go behind the lifesaver so I was able to cut out the center. (I always use up every piece of that foam! No need to pitch it just cause the dots are used!!) The paper floss may have been a bit too much...

Mia's Deco Bird

Okay, so it didn't turn out as nice as it looked in my head, but not a total disaster. I used the rock-n-roll technique on the bird. The flowers & vine are colored over with the Souffle pens. They did turn out nicely on the blue background except I expected the yellow to be a bit more greenish looking. So, when they say OPAQUE pens...word to the wise...they actually mean it!

Card Details:

Stamps: R-2026 Deco Designs

Paper: Mia's Cottage paper & cardstock

Ink: Starry Night, Bordeaux

Embellish: Mia's Cottage ribbon & hardware

Blue Sympathy

Today I'm starting to show all the cards I was able to submit for Catalog Creations! I didn't want to show any of these till the catalog release...

Sympathy cards seem to be the kind of card we always have to scramble to create. We need them, we just don't, as a general rule, like to make them. Perhaps that's why it took so long for TAC to come out with a really nice Sympathy set. It's always tough to know what to say at a time when a sympathy card is needed, but this set, With Sympathy, has a lot of options and lends itself to variety with endless combination possibilities. The phrases are varied enough to be able to use on the outside and inside of your cards.

The other thing I'd like to mention is that we were required to use 5 specific sketches for our catalog submissions. We also had to use specific stamp sets with specific paper selections. Other than that...we could let our imagination run WILD!! I'm really anxious to see how this concept played out in the new catalog, aren't you? If you can correctly guess which cards use the same sketch...it's worth a special prize at the Open House on Saturday, July 12!! OH!! One more thing...If you find one of my cards in the catalog that's worth another prize! See you there!!

Card details:

Stamps: T-2771 With Sympathy

Papers: V-827 Pop Rockz, White Ultrasmooth

Ink: Beaux Arts Blue

Embellish: Mia's Cottage ribbon (White colored with ink)

Transcendance EP, Pop Dots

Pink & black birthday

I really like using black. I need to use it more often.

Here's another 10-minute-or-less card, focus on the less. All the paper is from Uptown Girl so it all matches nicely! It's easy to pop out cards when you use a basic sketch. I copped this sketch from a blog I frequent.

My card isn't as nice as the one I used for the sketch. Dang! Wish I could remember who that was.... I'll try to take better notes in the future.

...and here it is!!

Do you all remember my request for help on the Wild West Cowboy stamp? I had some preprinted cardstock cards from DCWV and I didn't have that stamp but thought he would be perfect. I've had this card in my head for 2 weeks or more and finally snuck (is that a word?) down to the basement today and popped it out! YEA for me!!

So, do you see what I mean? That lil' cowboy fits perfect in that big star! His 5 o'clock shadow was done with masking & sponging. I colored with the prismacolor pencils & OPT. I think it turned out too cute! I'd still consider this a 10-minute-or-less card...even if the lasso took a bit of manipulating.

One more thing to share...

I think the cats knows we are leaving. He won't leave me alone! Right now, I'm trying to type around fur. Time to move Simba!

Hmm... I don't think THAT was the best alternative. Trash goes out tomorrow, you know.

What?

I know, it's not a TAC stamp! Can you believe it? Yes, I do own other stamps and amazingly enough, I do actually use them! This is a retired CTMH stamp I got many years ago when I first started stamping and it's the one I usually use when I need a Birthday card for one of the kid's real quick.

For once I decided I'd just make a bunch to have on hand and not be so rushed when I need one quick. As long as this much is done, they are acceptable and I can work on flashing them up if & when I have time!

Thinking of you

After I made this card, it ocurred to me that I could have used this for the brown & blue swap also. But it became a different swap.

The top 1/2 is sponged. The circles are punched. The image is colored with chalk pencils and prismacolor pencils.

With sympathy...

I did this quick & easy sympathy card for a swap recently. Hope you like it.

If you look closely at it you will discover, as I did, that the Clever lever punches don't line up so well together. Both the black and the ivory in the center were done using the Clever lever punches. I was quite disappointed when I saw this. It still looks okay I suppose but for a perfectionist, like me, it's hard to not notice.

I've been seeing a lot of things made using the "Nestabilities" sets. I didn't think I needed them until I did this card and saw the difference in the oval and the scalloped oval. "Nestabilities" immeditately went on my wish list!!

Get Well

I hope no one is in need of this card right now. Some have mentioned summer colds, and if its you, I do hope you're over it soon!
This is a copy of one of Heather's cards. I liked the sketch so much with the stitching, I had to use it! You may want to check out her Prismacoloring tutorial also! I used her method for coloring in the flower. I actually own some of the Prismacolor blending pencils but I don't use them. I just can't get them to work for me...but the white pencil works great!

You could change the sentiment easily on this card. Especially with the Ordinary Greetings set, my current favorite for stuff like this.

Happy Father's Day!

Okay, so just a bit early! And yes, I know this one says "Happy Birthday." But it is the card I used for Father's Day. I just made some extra and changed the phrase. Gotta love that mini alphabet set! SO versatile! I actually like the letters a bit offset. It adds interest, I think. The Old Truck used here is a retired TAC stamp, but still a favorite for masculine cards! The image is colored with chalk pencils. Those are great for easy quick coloring! Just outline and blend!

A simple thanks...

that ANYONE can put together!

The paper is from my hoarded paper stack. I think it's about time I used it up. It's probably 10 years old and apparently outdated.

Although I like it plain, I thought it needed some pizazz and was planning to add some stickle swirls, but I was in a big hurry. So, a quick alternative was to stamp with versamark and then use the clear sparkle embossing powder.

Not really the same effect, but still, it works. Here is a close up of the embossing. Photo didn't turn out too bad.

Do you ever have a moment....

...when you just can't seem to stay on track? Well, for the last 2 nights I have been in my cave prepping for Stamp Camp tonight. Okay, so maybe I haven't been. For some reason I've been on a red & black lady bug kick & just couldn't move on until I had it out of my system! So, I'm STILL prepping for Stamp Camp! (Thank goodness hubby doesn't read my blog so don't tell him!)

As you can see, I was really on the ladybug kick. I seem to run in phases. What can I say? For whatever reason something grabs me & it takes a while to work it through until I can move on to something else. (Ask Lisa about my orange phase!)

This all started with the intent on doing something with an "inchie." Until I discovered the ladybug wouldn't fit in 1 inch square. I had to make it an inch and a quarter. The ladybug paper is old old old! I got it several years ago because it was such a darling tiny print to use as mini envelopes for some Girl Scout swaps. Anyway... I figured as long as I'm cutting up the sheet of paper I may as well use it up!

I ended up with a 1 x 1 1/2 piece that eventually, oh, I have to admit it, got thrown into the trash bin. Now, part of me is apalled that I didn't save it, and part of me is proud. I admit it, I'm a hoarder! I save nearly everything. If you've seen my craft room, you know it's true. Lots and lots and lots... and LOTS of stuff! But I'm coming to the realization that life is short and... what am I saving all this stuff for anyway? I bought it to USE it! And if I can't come up with an immediate plan for a scrap of 1 x 1 1/2 piece of paper...it's needs to be pitched. Otherwise, there may come a day when I may be found buried under piles of unused Oooo-that's-too-special-to-use-now and saved I-may-use-that-someday pieces of paper!!

Just Because....

....I LOVE to stamp! Why else would I do this? I love to create and share. It's my great stress reliever!

Here is a very simple 10-minutes-or-less card again. Hmm...seems like I like those...a lot! The sketch for this card came from Sheet Load of Cards. It's a monthly E-zine that gives great layouts for making cards in multiples, plus all the cutting directions! It's a great reference for making swap cards.

This card went out as a Blue&Brown swap recently. I used some decorative paper I got on a special deal at JoAnns. (I really need to use that stuff up!) The brown cardstock is the old TAC brown. (We now have a richer, darker, more yummy chocolatey brown.) The ribbon was a BigLots bargain but it's a spot on match for TAC's Hemingway brown. Stamps are Just Because and the Hostess Swirl set...we'll see if that one makes it to the new catalog! And of course, Palette inks: Burnt Umber and Reflection Blue.

Thank you

First I'd like to say a big "THANK YOU" to Carol and Angela who will be helping me out with my Wild West Cowboy search! Thanks so much ladies!

Here is a quick & easy, but still elegant, "Thank you" card. I used the Flourish set, one of my all-time favorites and the Thank you GWP stamp. (For those of you perusing my blog, a GWP is a "Gift With Purchase" stamp you get for each $30 on your TAC order.)

How do you like that ribbon? That's a Target store red tag item. I found it in the Bridal needs section right off of stationary. 15 yards for $1.99. Sounded like a deal to me! That gold color will compliment LOTS of stuff...especially some of TAC's exclusive papers!

The gold cardstock is from one of the Bazzill sets, the light color is ivory and I used Cognac Palette ink. The Thank you circle is raised up via a pop dot. I guess you could call it a 10-minute-or-less card. Very simple stamping, very basic but I have to admit, this is a card I really like! Hope you like it too!

Butterflies

Here's a card I finally completed for a butterfly swap on 444. I also used the June SOTM, Butterfly boxes. Do you ever have a time in your creative endeavors where something just will not come together? The butterflies seemed to be that thing for me. For whatever reason, I was just not butterfly inspired and it took FOREVER for this card to actually come together and do you know, I still think it's rather simple looking.

I don't think you can tell from this pic, but the butterfly rectangles are cut out and mounted with foam so they stand up and the butterflies are layered with the little wings folded up. I glued the bodies so the wings could stand up and "flutter." The rectangles are colored with chalk pencils and the butterfly on top is colored in with stickles. Check out the flight trails! You can almost see the crystal stickles on those!

The background on the top of the card is versamarked with an older GWP floral background stamp. (I know, that doesn't show up very well.) The bottom I left plain except for the sentiment. (Yes, it's down there and yes, I know I ought to take some photography classes.)

Help!

Do you ever get an idea in your head and just have a compulsion to complete something?
Well, I'm in one of those situations now...
I have some preprinted cards from DCWV and see it going with a particular stamp, that I DO NOT own and I'm not really sure I want to own it, especially not to make only 6 cards!
So, I'm sending this request out into the universe and hope some lovely angel will help me out.

I'm looking for the cowboy from T-2633 Wild West set on page 59 of the Spring/Summer 08 TAC catalog (current). If a willing person would stamp him off 6 times and pop them in an envy, I would LOVE it! let me know if you'd like something in trade. Thanks ever so much!

Tagged...

Percy at ART~FULL om, a sister in Angelhood #1, has tagged me!
The "rules" of the game:
Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

Ten years ago: I was still living in purgatory with a newborn, a one year old, and a seven year old, all girls! (Thank goodness I was the only one "hormonal.")

Five things in todays 'to do list':
Stamp
Library
Stamp
Bank
oh, yeah, and ...Stamp

Snacks I enjoy:
Apples & cheese
Salsa & chips
Nuts

Things I would do if I was a millionaire:
Donate money to causes I care about...GS, Alzheimer's, etc.
Buy property
Travel to Italy & Alaska
Complete my stamp/scrap collection and studio....(okay, so maybe that's never complete)

Places I have lived:
Denver, CO (several places in the metro area)
Waukesha, WI
Helper, UT
Paonia, CO

I will now tag:
Julie
Vicki
Carol
Barb F. and
Annie

Half hand made...

Aaarrrgghhhh!!!

I can hardly believe it's been a WEEK since I last posted!

Do you remember being a kid and how time moved too S L O W L Y ? Wish I had that problem again from time to time...'cept I'd like time to s t r e t c h and my abilities to look like double-time, you know? Is it an issue of age? Does it just mean I'm just getting older? A lesson from my mom, I suppose...the older you get, the faster time goes she would probably have said. Anyway...enough of my time management issues...

Here's a very simple, make-it-in-10-minutes-or-less card. I consider this half homemade since I used pre-printed cards from DCWV (which I picked up on sale at Hobby Lobby). I simply stamped the saying (from Be Still), edged that with ink, layered on matching cardstock, wrapped the ribbon (a great Wal-Mart deal - 75 cents for the entire roll of the ever-so-popular Chartreuse) around the card base & added the sentiment using foam tape. Voila! Complete card.

On another note, I've been investigating photo huts to help my photos look a bit better. Right now, I don't think I can invest the funds for a real one so, DH will see if we can make one, of sorts. But I do have SEVERAL pics ready to go in the meantime...I just need the time to get them posted!!