Finding Treasures!

It seems every time I go through my stuff to clean up or sort things I find things I've pre-stamped and never used! This time it was these uncolored flowers. Yes, this is an old stamp SU! set but sometimes these old sets are just what you're looking for!

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Anyway, these images are stamped on glossy paper. I wanted to color with my Copics but I've been told that they don't work on glossy. I went ahead and tried anyway!

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They definately don't blend but you can still use them. You just don't get the shading that these markers can give you on nice, smooth paper.

I also took a very light grey to go around the image and give it a wee bit of dimension. Yes, I know they look like they are floating in thin air but oh well!

Then just layered them with some cardstock, stamped a sentiment and used simple embellishment on each to finish them up!

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Happy stamping!

I'm Getting Distressed!!! :)

Yes, my distress is all about the ink though! Ranger Ink that is! In a few days I have the pleasure of presenting another card class at my LSS and it features 4 different ways to use Ranger's Distress Inks. This first card is called brushless watercoloring. The focus really is the stamp and I just didn't want to cover it up with a bunch of embellies so I picked my favorite bg and let it speak for itself!
This second card is making the paper look kinda like leather. The real name of the techique has slipped my mind right now! Figured it was a great masculin looking paper so the trees and again very little embellies to finish it off.
This pic really does not do this justice. It is dark outside and I just can't seem to get a nice shot. Anyway, this card started off being ivory c/s. The ink is applied to a craft mat, spritzed with water and then you smear the paper over top. Kinda fun, real inky and I liked that in this sample it was a soft look.

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The fourth card we are doing I've shown you a while ago. It is having some fun with the spritz and flick technique!

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The whole idea is just to show the girls there are many way to use this ink and it is way more fun to use than just stamping with it!

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Getin' Inky!

Fun & Simple

I found my self sitting and coloring images a little while ago with no plans to use them. I just plain picked marker colors without a care for being able to match them to papers I have!!!

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Sometimes, ok most times for me, my favorite cards are the ones I don't plan out. I start with one thing, say the color image, and look for ways to use them later.

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There is much talk about notebooks or journals where many people jot down thoughts and ideas. I have come to terms with my mind not being able to work that way. :)

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I tend to wing it! Sometimes for good and sometimes not so good. And I'm ok with that!

This is just another way I used the same colored image and focused on a different color scheme. I like the first one much more but I thought the purple inked background stamp on the teal paper was kinda fun!

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Here's to finding what is fun for you!

Could I add anything else?!?!?!

This is a card I made for a dear friend's birthday. She has been the queen of techniques with the philosophy of more is good (even though her style has changed since then :)

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Anyway, I had a ton of fun trying to use my Ranger alcohol inks in as many ways as I could on this. The background was ivory paper, smeared with ink then "spritzed & flicked" with water.

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The photo corner and arrow were silver & copper and thanks to the inks they are now black and red! The funny square, jewel thing was an architectural stone which I inked up and covered in glaze and pressed in the jewel. The stamp is also from a set she gave me a couple of years ago. We both have a soft spot in our hearts for vintage stamps!

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Then a little piercing and copper paper to mat it with and I don't think I could add one more thing! Maybe next year I will try to go more simple and clean, like her current style is!!!

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Enjoy your day!

Another Calendar, with some tricks....

I know I've shown you a bunch of calendars already, but this one has a few tricks that I've added and wanted to show you. I have really been enjoying playing with my alcohol inks and copic markers. This flower was a teal color from the store so I colored it with a deep red copic marker! I also colored the jewel brad to match!


In this one, I used my copics to color the red baubles and red brad. My ranger ink to color the arrow. It was silver to start and now it is teal!

This one, I also colored the spiral with my copics.

Last but not least, that flower was white to start! But not more, thanks to my copics!!!

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I love being able to color anything I want! It is awesome!!!

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Happy stamping (or coloring) today!

More Background Stamps!

Simple, and hopefully elegant. I love the big b/g stamps to make my own patterned paper! Here I've used a few more of the pre-stamped card stock I had before I recieve my order from Cornish Heritage Farms. They have soooo many wonderful new ones it is not easy deciding how many I can afford to get!

Well, this is a super quick post tonight! I've not been a huge blog poster but I do love to share when I can!
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Happy stamping!

My Christmas Projects...

Every Christmas for the last 5 or so years I've been making my mom & sisters something special for Christmas. Things, like card sets, coasters and stamped candles to name a few.

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This year I planned to make these calendars last summer, got crazy busy this fall and only decided I HAD to do them on Dec. 23rd!!! Oh my, how crazy is that! Seeing as each one took me about 3-4 hours that is all I did until our get together!

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I used 4 x 4 chipboards coasters, 2 - 12x12 designer papers and lots of flowers & embellies!

Here is a side view...

And here a few of the pages to show you some of the different, yet very simple layouts I used.

Since then, I decided to make a few more for friends!!! They are soo fun!

As Martha as I'll ever get.... Christmas 2007

I saw this idea in a commercial to use cranberries inside, upside-down glasses and then they become candle holders!!! Make sense!?!?!? Anyway, this is the easiest way to create something fun. Then we got to thinking about all kinds of things you could put inside the glass depending what the occasion is - gumballs, paper curls, tinsel or whatever!

Anyway, this year Christmas was a year of posing and picture taking! Everyone got in on the fun! (This is my beautiful 12 year old daughter!!!)

Even my 4 year old nephew loved his new camera!

Getting lessons on what new camera's can do! Great! Now Chad wants another new toy!!!

Grandma is enjoying her yearly Christmas story reading time to the Grandkids! It looks like they are all enjoying it too!

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Every year I get to enjoy Christmas Eve with my parents, sisters and our families. We eat fun food, exchange gifts and enjoy each others company.

My sister making fun of my re-using a Christmas bag from last year!

My sister Pam and I, before we both got sick! Well, you can't say we don't share!!!

Then on Christmas morning, "Dad" gets to pull out the gifts from under our tree!

This year, he got the gift "wrapping" that never ends! Thanks to an un-named brother-in-law of mine, Kassandra has been dying to wrap Dad's gift with an endless amount of saran-wrap. I think she actualling used packing plastic and doubled the size of the gift with the many layers!

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He was pleased when he finally got the end though, it was his Lord of the Rings extented editions that he has been wanting. (Yuck!) hehehe

Then the girls got the first of 2 big gifts. This is their reaction to finding tickets to the TobyMac concert in February!

Then getting a Wii. Maya was great, she got all excited and was cheering with Kassandra until Chad asked her if she even knew what it was. She has no idea what it was but thought it must be good!

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If anyone is considering some kind of video game, this is most definatly the way to go! I've even enjoyed a few games of bowling!!!

An action shot!

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That was our Christmas in a nutshell! Yes, both my sister and I got sick, missed a few extended family get togethers but all in all it was a great week.

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If anyone actually made it to the end of this post I'm impressed! I posted most of this for the out of province family! Happy New Year!

Copic Marker Class

Yes, I've been infected my the Copic marker bug! I have a set coming to me for Christmas that I snuck in and used to make this sample for a class in January! Ooops! Don't tell my mom! :)

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Anyway, I was going for simple yet playing with some basic color layering. These markers are so easy to create dimension. I also wanted to use some stamps that the shop sells that I've not used in a class yet and that thought led me straight to My Favorite Things. I really like this little coffee set as it has a focal image along with little pieces, like separate mugs and the corner coffee beans, to compliment it.

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Well, on a personal note, I am really working at finding the peace of Christmas today (after I get all the house cleaning done). To relax and be able to enjoy the anticipation of my favorite celebration. To ponder on the gift of Christ and be grateful.

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Merry Christmas everyone!

Background stamps!

I've always loved big, background stamps, collected a bunch of them but not used them as much lately! So, with all the new ones that Cornish Heritage Farms just released (thanks to Lisa) I figured I should use what I have pre-stamped before I get new ones.

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Yes, I have been known to pre-stamp wacks of backgrounds, keep them in a shoebox and pull them out as needed. Saves time when I feel creative and gives me something to stamp when I'm not feeling creative!

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This first card used white craft ink overtop of Rose Red paper. Black mat. Embossed the sentiment and added the ribbon & flowers. I used the same basic layout for the next card too. Except the bg stamp is on vellum and attached with the brads on the bottom and some adhesive under the snowflakes and sentiment.

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I strategically placed the snowflakes over the birds on this stamp to give it a different look. (just in case some of you know what this stamp actually looks like :)

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I'm kinda needing to do something other than Christmas right now and these cards were just what I needed!

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Enjoy your day!

When something is sold out....

you get creative at the dollar store!!! I was so disapointed when PaperTrey sold out of their nugget tins! I bought the Holiday Treat stamps, 10 tins and then realized there are many, many people I want to be able to give just a little something to for Christmas and 10 tins just plain wasn't enough!
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I even went down to Bellingham to buy a ton of the Hersey Nugget chocolates. But now had no containers to put them in!
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So, at the dollar store today I started poking around in all the containers and ended up with these glass jars! Just add some tissue to hold the chocolates in place, ranger alcohol inks, embossing and ribbon!
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Yay! Problem solved and all my friends will be gettin' some chocolate!

Someone Special

I made this card for someone special that was overdue a birthday card! Maybe she will figure out who she is, maybe she won't! Either way, I hope she likes it!

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This was one of those that needed to have some extra touches. So, I started by using my Ranger Inks again to give the background some depth & stamped over to add some lines.

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Then I stamped the 3 flowers (Cornish Heritage's new Silhoutte flowers by Kim Hughes), let them dry and colored overtop with a sparkly gel pen to glitafy (glitter) them! :) Added the ribbon, tag, corner punch and snaps to complete it. The tag has the "Best Wishes" embossed in copper.

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I hope your day included stamping something!

For my Mom...

My mom loves the "Red Hat's Society" stuff so I made her a couple of these to give her as stocking stuffers. (I don't think she peeks in here much?!?!?!)

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Anyway, I started this a blank paper, more alcohol inks and nothing in particular in mind to make. When I finished creating the background paper I decided pretty quick that it would be perfect for this type of card.

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I hope she likes them!

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Enjoy some ink today!

Surprise, surprise!

It's another Thomas Kinkade card!!! Hopefully, you aren't getting tired of them! And hopefully, I will create something soon with stamps that aren't getting as much love anymore!

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Anyway, this is my first attempt at useing Copic markers. They are fun to play around with.

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I also stamped the background with Cornish Heritage Farm's Paisley backgrounder. Then I accidentally wiped some pearlX on a corner. Realizing the versa mark ink I used with the stamp was still wet I decided to brush a light dusting of pearlX over the whole thing.

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It probably won't stay on it handled to much but it sure gives the paper a light sparkle! And who doesn't love some sparkle?!?!?!

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Enjoy your day!

Getin' Inky!

Indeed I did! I've been playing with Ranger Distress Inks & Alcohol Inks lately, thanks to a good friend! And if you have ever played with them you will know what I'm talking about!!!

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I started with plain, ivory paper, a couple distress ink pads and some cut & dry foam. I smeared/rubbed/sponged the ink onto the paper and kept playing with the color until I achieved what I was looking for.

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Then I stamped the TK image in archival ink overtop. Roughed up the edges, used my glitter pen to bring our the sparkled of the snow, tied on the ribbon and then sat there and didn't really like it. :(

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That friend that got me excited about all this ink saw it sort of tossed aside and liked it. So, I'm posting this for her! Maybe someone else will get inspired out there and improve my attempt!!!

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Enjoy your day everyone!

Paper Ornament Class

This is another class I've been awaiting a long time!!! I had so much fun preparing that I just wanted to teach it right away!

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We will be using Basic Grey's new Figgy Pugging line of paper, Stamping Bella baubles, ribbons, die cuts, mod podge, and sanding tools to create 3 ornaments. The angel & the bird are 2 of them. I posted the star a while ago when I first planned the class.

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So, if anyone needs something to do tomorrow (Monday) night, come on out and join us!

No Stamps?!?!?!

Yes, I can make cards without stamping!!! hehehe I followed a challenge to create a card using chipboard, Making Memories product and an avery label!

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Very interesting combo! But so fun to work completly outside of your normal idea pattern. Anyway, the chipboard is from a Basic Grey pack, the sentiment is a Making Memory gel sticker and the label is covered with matching paper and looped around the frame. I was going for using it as I might have used ribbon.

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Then of course attach the flowers for a focus! I took this little close up so you could see the gel sticker better.

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Enjoy your day, even if it doesn't include stamping! :)

Man Cards

Do you struggle with them too? My favorite things include flowers, glitter & ribbon, which are all too girly for good man cards!

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Thankfully, these Thomas Kinkade images, by Cornish Heritage Farms, and some techniques I learned from a good Ranger instructor gave me the tools I needed for some b-day cards for a couple men in my life!

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I used Ranger distress ink on plain manila like paper to create the background. Stamped the image in black over top. Then UTEE'd over the entire thing! A little stitching, more gold embossing, and a few layers and there is not one inch that looks to feminine!

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Ok, so stitching might be considered feminine, but at least I used black thread! :)

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I love the way they turned out, and felt so good to give them away!

Creative Expo!

If you are anywhere near Abbotsford, BC come and check out the fun expo going on starting today!!!

The Creative Expo looks like it will be filled with classes and tons of fun!

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I'll be there tonight and Friday night. Maybe I'll bump into someone?!?!?!

Making the Most!

Making the most of patterned paper! Seems to be something I tend to try a lot!!!

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Anyway, this is paper I received from a friend a while ago and I'm finally forcing myself to use it. It came in 6 X 6 size and I loved it so much (hence the delay in cutting into it) that I had to use every inch! Easily decided to make 3 X 6 cards.

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Then after cutting enough to make 12 cards, I wanted to make 2 different themes. Also something I love to do, use the same layout/paper and have them available for different occasions.

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The birthday card is watercolored with SU! watercolor crayons & a Dove blender pen. The Christmas card is embossed with Kaleidoscope powder but you can't really see that in the photo. So, you will have to trust me that it is all glittery!

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Then I added baubles, like the ones from Stampingbella, and also one of her sentiments.

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Hope you all have a great beginning to your week! I've got a jam packed week of classes, shopping & my office job! Should be fun!

Drum roll please......

What fun!!! You are all so great! The actual count is 163, 40 yards of ribbon & 123 primas! That makes it mighty close but the winner is scrapmomof2! YAY!!! I will check your blog to see if there is an email link!

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Just to show you at least a little something, this is what my fam did this last weekend to have a little fun. (Yes, Laura I did say fam to include you, especially while Pam is gone!!!!) Everyone got into pumpkin carving. Below is our final products: a puppy, a horse & Mona Lisa! Cool eh?

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I hope everyone had a safe, fun evening!

10,000 posts Celebration!

Thanks to all of you out there in blog land, I'm approaching 10,000 hits!!!
And that means I need to celebrate and show you my appreciation!
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The best way I know to do that is to send someone a package of my favorite card making supplies! Can you tell what it is?!?!?! Ribbon, ribbon, & more ribbon! And of course I must include flowers!!!
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So, to be a little different I want to see who can guess how many yards of ribbon & how many primas I'm giving away! I've counted in full yards and will give it all to the person who is exactly right or the closest. To make sure everyone understands the same if I have 10 yards of ribbon and 20 primas my guess would be 30 total.
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Yes, this pile in the pic is exactly what I will be sending along with one more of my favorites.... a couple Thomas Kinkade cards! If the person who guesses the closest would prefer a few plain, ready to use stamped images we could make those arrangements too. You would have the choice. (I'd love to see someone who hasn't tried them yet to fall in love with them as I have!)
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I will post the winner Oct. 31st, probably late in the evening! (Remember I'm on the West Coast kind of late!)
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Happy guessing!