Tuesday Tip Day - Versamark Pads

Good morning. Only a few more days until Christmas.  Have you gotten all your shopping done? I think I am as ready as I'll ever be. At least I hope so.  I'll probably still be remembering things I should have gotten or should have done, right up until Christmas.

I'm making some new goodies to eat this year, and if they turn out okay, I'll share the recipes with you here.

Now on to today's tips:  Using your Versamark Pads

• Use for adding discreet journaling lines to your scrapbooking.  The Versamark ink is sticky when you first apply it, but it dries like regular ink and loses it's stickiness. It's acid-free so it's safe for your scrapbook pages, and it works on all colored card stock.
• Use it in place of embossing ink.  Just stamp and emboss with colored or clear embossing powder.
• Use it for shadowing. This is a technique that works well with kaleidacolor pads and word stamps, but actually any type ink or stamp will work. Stamp the image with Versamark. Then stamp directly over it with your other colored ink. Because you seldom will be exact in the placement of the second stamping, you will make a shadow that gives a 3-D effect.  You can embellish on this by embossing with a transparent embossing powder. Metallic ink pads also give a stunning effect.
• You can use your Versamark pad to make a watermark.  This is great for tone on tone backgrounds. It will deepen the shade of colored paper wherever you stamp.  So, for every color of paper you own, you now have a complementary color of ink. 
• You can do the Poppin' Pastels technique. There are two ways to accomplish this effect on light colored card stock.
• Apply chalks to the area to be stamped, then stamp with Versamark and allow to dry (or use your heat tool to dry your paper faster). Then gently rub with a clean cotton ball.  You could emboss with clear embossing powder while the stamped image is still wet, and the image will jump out at you.
• Stamp first with Versamark, then rub the chalk gently over the stamped area and watch the image magically appear.
• You can do the Reverse Pastels technique. This time you will use brightly colored chalk to cover dark card stock. Then stamp with Versamark over the chalked area.  The ink will pull out the color of the paper from beneath the chalk. I like to emboss with clear embossing powder while the ink is still wet.  Be sure to clean your stamp before re-inking it, as the chalk you removed is now on the stamp, and you will dirty your Versamark pad.
• The Brayer Resist technique can be done with Versamark.  Stamp your image(s) onto glossy white card stock, using Versamark ink. Gently wipe away the ink using a lotion free tissue, wiping in a small circular motion. Ink up your brayer and roll it over the paper. Wherever the Versamark was stamped, the paper will resist the colored ink from your brayer. 
• Embossing on Glass - Use an anti-static bag on your glass to remove any static electricity. Use the Versamark to stamp an image onto a glass container. Emboss with detail gold or silver embossing powder. Fill your glass container with candy and tie a ribbon on it. Makes a great gift for a hostess.

I hope you get to try some of these tips. Leave a comment and tell us how it worked out for you, or, if you have other tips for using a Versamark pad, please share them with us.

I hope you have a very merry Christmas!

Tuesday Tip Day - More Fiber Fun

WOW!! Less than 2 weeks til Christmas.  The time has snuck up on me, and I'm not ready.  Are you ready?  I did manage to get all my Christmas cards done, but I haven't finished my Christmas shopping.  Yikes, I'd better get a move on.

This blog is posted several different places, so not all the comments show up here. It's also linked to my Facebook page, and of course, the comments there don't show up here.  If you want to friend me on Facebook, please make sure you put blog in the comment section so I'll know where you found me.

Now, let's get some more fiber tips!  Some of these may also be used for scrapbooking. I like that you can use fibers in multiple places.

You can use fibers to:

• Map out your vacation route with fiber threaded through eyelets (great scrapbook page)
• Spell out the greeting, using fibers to stitch out the letters
• Make a frame around a stamped image.
• Use as laces on paper pieced shoes (great for paper pieced sneakers)
• Use fibers to tie 2 or more elements together
• Scarf on a stamped or paper pieced snowman
• Create bows
• Fringe on animals
• Build a water/mountain outline
• Attach a tail to a kit
• Use for seaweed
• Make clotheslines for hanging small clothes with tiny pins.
• Stitching a template design
• To hang or attach buttons or charms
• Use to hang signs from buttons, brads or eyelets

Can you think of other uses for fibers?  Please leave a comment and let us know.

I don't know if I will get to post again before Christmas, but I'll try.  If not, have a great Christmas.

Hugs,

Tuesday Tip Day

Good morning!  It's been awhile since I've posted, I know, but life has been busy.

Thanksgiving was a great success this year.  We didn't cook, we went out to a restaurant with a Thanksgiving buffet and enjoyed our meal immensely. Scott roasted a small turkey breast so we would have "leftovers" for sandwiches, and I bought a couple of pies, and we were good to go. And the best part was, we didn't have to spend 2 days cooking and all the mess to be cleaned up.  And we had turkey, ham, prime rib and baked stuffed sole, so the family members who really don't care for turkey were in heaven. Hope yours was fantastic, too.

I thought today I would give you some tips for using those fibers that you have left over from when fibers were all the rage. If you are like me, you still have lots left. Let's use them up.  Here are some ways to do that:

• Weave through mesh
• Create trees or grass
• Make hair or other features on paper dolls
• Use as a string for balloon diecuts or stamped balloons
• Tie through the hole on a tag
• Create a spider web
• Use as decorations on a Christmas tree
• Use as decorations on an Easter Egg
• Use as a blanket stitch around a border or mat
• Make tassels
• As needlepoint stitches on your page or card
• As an enhancement to die cuts
• Use to hang mini tags
• Use as an accent on Serendipity Squares
• As embroidery stitching
• Attach to a brad and use as a yoyo
• Use for wrapping presents
• Wind fibers tightly together to form the center of a flower

Can you think of other uses for fibers?  Please add a comment. We will keep adding to the list.

Have a great week and I hope you get to do something crafty.

Autumn Cards

Good evening.  It's been a while since I last posted, and tonight seemed like a good time to rectify that.  Since that time Halloween has come and gone (both granddaughters had strep throat and didn't get to go trick or treating), I've participated in a virtual stamp convention over at Rubber Stamp Chat, we've had an election, and I'm finally settling back into the routine.

I have made a couple of autumn cards, so I'll share those with you:

Both of these cards use a leaf set from The Angel Company, which is my favorite autumn stamp. I have had this set for 5 or 6 years, so I'm not even sure if they are still available.  I used alcohol ink for the colored background, then stamped my favorite leaf stamp.  On the first card I just cut the stamped background into squares and put them on the card. I used some fibers I've had for some time.  (Just trying to get rid of stuff).

On the 2nd card I made the background the same way, colored it with alcohol ink, then stamped the leaf.  I punched this set out with a scalloped punch, and tied raffia around the background.

I hope you have a great week, and I hope you get to do something crafty.

Inky hugs,

Layout Challenge

Good evening.  I have a busy, busy weekend ahead, how about you?  I am in the middle of a virtual stamp convention at Rubber Stamp Chat, so I have orders to make.  Also, I need to get a haircut, I want to carve pumpkins with the granddaughters, and Sunday is Halloween, so I'll have to help the oldest granddaughter with her makeup.  She wanted to be the Mad Hatter, so we got her costume all ready, but she'll need help with the makeup.  The youngest one is going as a hippie, and she really looks cute in her costume.

I want to post some cards I made for the Technique Junkies layout challenge.  I had a lot of fun, and even though all the cards are the same layout, they have different looks. Tell me what you think:

They are pretty self-explanatory, so I won't bore you with all the details.  Why don't you give this layout a try?

Oh, I want to make some Pizza Mummies for the girls when they are here.  They are easy to make...just take English Muffin, split and toast.  Put some pizza sauce on them, then cut the cheese into strips. Layer the cheese in a criss cross fashion, leaving space for the eyes.  For the eyes, use black olives, and put either a piece of pimiento or scallion for the pupil. Place in a 350 degree oven until the cheese is lightly melted (about 10 minutes).   You can see them here.Publish Post

Hope you have a great weekend....

Pink and Brown Distressed Card

Good morning!  It's a beautiful morning here in Florida. I have been sleeping with my windows open and really enjoying the cool air.

A friend recently had surgery and I wanted to make her a special card while she recuperated.  I know she likes pink, so that was a must.  I had just gotten a Technique Junkie newsletter, and there were a couple of designs in there I liked, so I combined the techniques and morphed it into this card:

I used glossy cardstock and liberally smooshed a light brown ink on it.  I put the top half in an embossing folder and spritzed it with water before I embossed.  I repeated with the bottom half in a different embossing folder.  While it was wet I blotted some of the pooled ink.  When the piece dried it was much lighter and looked kind of highlighted.

I used the same brown ink on a piece of regular white cardstock. Then I stamped "Thinking of You". You can see how much darker it stayed when it was dry. (I didn't spritz it with water). I used a corner rounder then layered it on pink cardstock and rounded those corners as well.

I layered ribbon between the two embossed halves.  Then I punched a bunch of flowers from different sizes of punches out of patterned paper, then put them together with a brad and placed on the ribbon.

The whole thing is very distressed looking, so if you like that look, this is a great way to achieve it.  I really liked the card when I was finished, and I hope it brightened my friends' day when she received it.

Enjoy the autumn weather....

Toddler Stamp and Card

Good morning!  I haven't posted in quite some time. I think my Muse is visiting someone else.  She needs to come home.

The weather here is dreary. We are under a tropical storm watch, and it's only supposed to get worse as the day goes on. But I don't mind occasional dreary days.  Especially after the brutal heat we have experienced this past summer.  I'm ready to move on to cooler weather.

I have a new stamp to introduce.  It's my Toddler Stamp (#D674-9C)  .  I put together a card to show you how cute it looks colored in.  I'm not happy with the background, and will work on that, but I like the image.

Here is the image:

And here is the card I made:

 I used a purple spray on the background purple cardstock, and it actually looks better in real life, but I'm still not happy with it.  I colored the gemstones with a copic marker to match the toddler's clothes, and they turned out nice. The background layers were cut with nestability dies, and the bottom white layer was embossed with the dotted swiss embossing plate.

I'll try not to be so long with my next post.  Until then, I hope you get to do something crafty!

ATC Folders

Good evening.  I hope you have had a good week.  It's been hot, as usual, but uneventful. That may be about to change.  We are keeping an eye on 3 systems in the tropics.  Danielle will miss us, and hopefully Earl will, too, but we will be tracking the one after, which will be Fiona when she's named.  But that's at least a week out, so we're good.

I make a lot of ATC's (artist trading cards, 3-1/2" x 2-1/2"), They get lost in card envelopes, so I have made a little folder to put into an envelope to mail them.  So the recipient gets an ATC and the decorated folder.  To mail them I use the 6-1/2" x 3-5/8" envelopes.

Here is a sample:

To start, I use a half sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 cardstock for the base.  I cut it so I have 2 pieces of 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" cardstock.  On the long side, I made 2 scores, one at 3-1/4" and one at 6-1/2". When you fold on the scores, you turn the 2" piece up and put a little glue on the side edges only, so it makes a little pocket across the bottom of thee cardstock.  When you turn the top scored piece down, you now have a nice little folder with a pocket.  You can embellish them in any way you choose, but I like to keep it kind of flat so I don't have a lumpy envelope or embellishments that get smashed or broken.  The pocket and flap will also help protect your ATC embellishments.  On the above folder I used decorative paper, then stamped the flourishes. I heat embossed the shell, then used distress inks to make it look like a real shell. I just attached it to the folder with adhesive.

Here are some more samples:

This one had flowers and leaves stamped, colored and cut out, then adhered to the folder. Some of the flowers have pop dots behind them. I used a scallop punch on the bottom so some of the pocket layer shows.

This one has a sand dollars stamped, heat embossed, cut out and adhered to the front.

I stamped this fellow, colored and cut him out, and adhered him to background paper that matches the background of the folder.  I cut out the 2 layers with a nestability die.

I stamped the dragonfly and cut it out. Then I stamped it again and just used the wings. I adhered the wing section over the bottom dragonfly so that the wings are dimensional.

I cut out the pink circle, stamped the dragonfly, then put stitches around the edge and used a white gel pen to put white dots in the circle.  I used glitter glue on the dragonfly.

I used the Cricut to cut out the medallion and the white background behind it. Then I stamped the image and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder.

I stamped the flower, colored it and cut it out and adhered it to the background paper. Very simple. And last, but by no means least,

I stamped this guy on the background, then stamped him again and cut out the bottom part, which I adhered to the stamped image.   I colored the flowers with markers, which didn't show the background behind them.

So, as you can see, you can do a lot of different things to jazz up your folder.  And it will still protect your ATC and keep it from getting lost in the envelope. You can make your own background papers instead of using patterned papers, and you can add more stamping.  I just used what I already had at hand.

I hope you give this a try. If you do, please share your creations with us, via a link in the comment section.

Have a great weekend!

Dragonfly Days

Good morning!  I hope you are doing well today.  It's almost time for the kids to head back to school here, but in some parts of the state (and country) school has already started.  My granddaughters can't wait for school to start so they can re-connect with their friends who they haven't seen during the summer.

I've been playing with the whimsical dragonfly stamp from the Stampsations line by My Paper Moon.  This is the first card:

The card looks gray in the scan, but it's really a navy blue.  The dragonfly was stamped with Staz-On, then without reinking I stamped it on the white cardstock several more times, giving it a shadowy appearance.  I wanted the main dragonfly to really pop, so I used crystal lacquer on the wings and body, then lightly sprinkled a light blue glitter over it while it was still wet. I used the nestability dies to cut out the main image and 2 mats. The card background is from some background papers I had, but really looks like a handmade background made using saran wrap crinkled up with ink. 

I stamped Psalm 118 on the bottom of the card.  I left the inside of the card blank, but I can use it for a birthday card, anniversary card, thinking of you card, or just leave it blank and use it as a notecard to write to my sister. 

I love the whimsy of this dragonfly stamp.  By using different colors and background papers, it totally changes the tone of the card. 

Here are a couple more cards I made using the whimsical dragonfly stamp:

On the bottom 2 cards I used glitter glue on the wings before I added the crystal lacquer.

I hope you have gotten a little inspiration today. Stay cool and I'll see you next time...

Thinking of You Card and Blog Award

x

Hello and happy Friday.  I hope you are beating the heat.  Can fall and cooler weather get here soon enough?  I swear it gets hotter every year!

I dug out a stamp that I don't often use, the Lotus Blossom stamp from My Paper Moon.  I was in the mood to make a Thinking of You Card, and this is what I came up with.

It's a very simple card, with a pink cardstock base and a dotted swiss embossed layer.  I stamped the lotus stamp 3 times on glossy cardstock and used alcohol inks to color the images.  I cut them out and layered them, pop dotting the one in the middle.  Very easy to do.

My friend, Shelly, has given me a new blog award. Thank you, Shelly!

There really isn't anything stylish about me, I'm all about comfort, but I will accept it in the spirit in which it was given.  I am supposed to list 5 things about me that are stylish, and I am supposed to give the award to 5 other bloggers. So, without further ado, here are my 5 stylish things:

1. I love shoes.  I wear shoes that are comfortable, but I have a closet full of shoes that I love to look at.
2. I love purses.  Same as with the shoes. I probably have 100 purses.  I can say that I use them all, though.
3. I love bright colored clothing. Blues and reds and yellows.  Lime green.  I got that from my mother.
4. I am trying to let my hair grow long enough to donate to Locks of Love. It's very hard during the summer, because I have thick hair, so it's very hot. I don't know how you ladies do it. You have my complete awe.
5. I love jewelry, although I don't wear it as often as I should.

Now I have to think about the 5 bloggers I am going to give this award to, so I'll have that in a future post.

I hope you have a great weekend. Hubby is entering a barbeque cookoff on Labor Day weekend, and he's going to practice with his teammate tomorrow, so I'll be eating barbeque. I hope you can stay cool.

And I hope you get to do something crafty!

Bargain Betty

Hey, there.  Hope you had a great weekend.  They are always too short (and too hot this time of year), but I enjoyed mine anyway. Hubby and I went to a nautical flea market, where he bought a tackle box.  I was surprised he didn't spend more money, but then, he has a lot of fishing stuff already.

I got to play with one of the Moe Wubba stamps that I usually don't reach for.  I made a couple of tags with Bargain Betty.

I  stamped Betty on white cardstock, and colored her in with Copic Markers.  I cut her out with a Nestability die.  I used part of another stamp (Stamp Out Empty Mailboxes) to get the rubber stamp image.  I made small slits in the sides of the shopping cart and inserted the stamps so it looks like she's shopping for rubber stamps (and getting a good deal - she must be shopping at My Paper Moon).

I took a manilla tag and smooshed green staz-on ink on the top part of it.  I took some complementary patterned paper and layered on the bottom part of the tag.  Then I put the Bargain Betty layer on top and stamped a small "Thanks" (Hero Arts).

I used a Mrs. Grossman lace sticker on the top part of the patterned paper.

This is the other tag I made.  I did it basically the same way. Only the patterned paper and colors changed.  And I used more of the lace sticker.

Hope you have enjoyed these tags as much as I enjoyed making them.

I hope you get to do something crafty this week (and keep out of the heat).

Zentangles

You may have wondered what happened to this week's Over The Moon Monday post.  Well, I had a long weekend, and with Monday being a day off from work, I spent it with hubby.  And I decided that during the summer, I will post at will and not on a schedule, so I will get back to the Over the Moon Monday posts in the fall.  For now I will just post when I have something to share.

Oh, my gosh, I have fallen in love.  I need to make an ATC using Zentangles.  And since I didn't really know what a Zentangle was, I had to do a little research.  And now I'm hooked. These are so much fun to make. I was never a doodler (except in high school), so doodling doesn't really come easy to me.  But I was able to make my first Zentangle, nevertheless.  Here are the ones I have made so far (since yesterday afternoon):

The one on the top left was my first Zentangle.  If you do an internet search, there are lots of sites and galleries for you to get ideas, along with some videos.  I plan on spending some time this weekend browsing and getting some inspiration. 

I fixed up a little baggy with some blank white ATC sized cards, along with some Sakura Micron pens with various sized nibs. This will be the perfect thing to keep me occupied while waiting in doctor's offices and other places where you have to wait.

If you have some Zentangles you'd like to share, please post a link to them in the comment section.  I'd like to see what you've done.  I'm always up for getting inspiration.  :-)

Also, during the month of July, all Christmas and winter stamps are 20% off at My Paper Moon. No coupon code to remember, the sale prices are already on the site and will post to your cart.  So why don't you get started on your Christmas cards while it's so hot outside? 

See you again soon....

Over The Moon Monday - Side Step Card

Good morning! I hope you had a great week.  I belong to Midwest Stampers Yahoo Group, and I joined a calendar swap, so I kept busy with that. My month is April, so I'm thinking April Showers and Easter.  I stamped a lot, colored a lot, and cut out a lot.  But it's coming along nicely. And it kept me in the air conditioned house.  It's brutally hot across much of the nation, and I hope you are keeping cool and drinking plenty of fluids to keep hydrated.

I was browsing some blogs, and found a card that I absolutely love, and I had to make one. It's called a Side Step Card, and I found it at Julie's Stamping Spot.  You have to be really careful to use the exact measurements she shows to make this card. Can I tell you how many I messed up and had to throw away?  Anyway, here is my card:

My camera is messed up, so I had to scan this with the scanner, and you can't really get the 3-D feel for the card. There are 3 "steps" on the right side of the card.  I used stamps from The Angel Company.  The little sentiment on the middle step says "flowers are the stars of the earth."

Also, I modified mine a little by putting the yellow cardstock on the 3rd step to make it a full sized card for my tulips to stand up on.

Anyway, I hope you find time to try this card. It's a lot of fun, and I can think of a lot of stamps that would go well with the 3-D-ness (is that a word?) of this card.  In Julie's samples, she used butterflies and flowers on one, and Christmas ornaments on another.  If you make this card, please share a link in the comment section.

Until next time, do something crafty!

Over The Moon Monday - Quilting

Good morning!  I hope you have had a good week.  I had a busy week and weekend.  First off, I have had severe pain in my right ankle for quite a while. So long, in fact, that I can't even remember when or how it started.  I finally broke down this week and went to a doctor, simply because I am tired of the pain, and it got to the point that I didn't even want to get out of bed.  I had to have some lab tests done, and the results weren't what I had hoped for.  I have to go have more labs today and then will see the doctor.

Then to start off my weekend, I awoke Saturday morning with a migraine.  Hubby said he tried to call me from the grocery store, and so I started looking for my cell phone.  It was in my jean pocket, the same one that he had just run through a complete laundry cycle. Needless to say, it didn't work. I had to go get a new cell phone. I have the old one in a bag of rice, and if I can get it dried out, at least I will have a spare. In case that happens again.

My granddaughters came over on Saturday afternoon to make their dad a Father's Day card, and the little one stayed the night. We went out to breakfast on Sunday morning, which is a treat for all of us, and then she spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon in the hot tub.  We don't have it heated right now, so it's like being in a swimming pool. Then we had a late lunch and she went home. She's one of those children that demand a lot of attention, but I really don't mind.

So, it's been a pretty full week, but I did manage to make a card. And here it is.

I really like this technique, since it lets me use up bits and pieces of cardstock or patterned paper.  

To make this card, I used plastic wrap tapped against a coordinating colored inkpad, then tapped on the paper to give it a watercolored look.  You could also achieve the same look using watercolored paper.  Or you could just use coordinating pieces of patterned paper.  Any of these options would be fine.  Just make sure you have at least 3 different kinds/colors of paper.

I stamped my main image (Miss Kitty) onto white cardstock and colored her. I also stamped it on a piece of the faux watercolored cardstock and cut out the dress so it would coordinate. You can't see from the scan, but I adhered little colored gemstones to her shoes that match the dress.

TIP:  You can use the little gems you find in the cosmetic section that you glue on your fingernails to use on your cards. They are usually less expensive than the jewels you buy for stamping/scrapping.

I cut these pieces of faux watercolored paper into odd sizes and adhered them to the bottom card layer.  I used a zigzag sewing stamp (unknown) to tie the seams together.  You could also just use a coordinating colored pen or a black pen to make these zigzag stitches.

I used nestability dies to cut out the main image, the layer mat, and the scalloped layer. I adhered them all together and adhered them to the front of the card. 

This is a great way to use up scraps.  I hope you give this technique a try. 

Have a great week!

Over The Moon Monday - Father's Day

Good morning!  How was your week?  I hope you had a fun week and got to do some crafting.  The heat here is brutal, so I've been spending as much time as possible inside, just to stay cool.  I've been enjoying the sunsets and sitting in the hot tub. We don't keep ours really warm, so it's been very refreshing, and a great way to beat the heat. I don't know what we did before we got it.

Today I want to share a card I made for my hubby for Father's Day.  He's a great guy (and the reason we have the hot tub), and I want to show my appreciation for all the things he does for me.

I like to keep my cards simple, without a lot of bulky embellishments so that I can mail them without a lot of extra postage.  Don't get me wrong, I love the look of cards with bulky embellishments, that's just not my style. Anyway, here is the card:

It's a pretty self-explanatory card, but here's how I made it anyway (for those of you who like written instructions):

• I stamped the hat 6 times, twice on each of 3 colors, and cut them out.
• I applied flocking to the hat bands, and let dry
• I used a nestability die to cut 6 pieces of cardstock, two each of three colors. These are the same colors I used to stamp the hats.
• I adhered the hats to the different colors of cardstock.
• I trimmed a piece of kraft cardstock with a scalloped edge punch.
• I adhered the hats in a manner that was pleasing to me to the kraft cardstock.
• I adhered the entire thing to a green base card.
• I stamped Happy Father's Day. (Stamp mfg. unknown)

I like the texture the flocking gives to the card without all the bulkiness.

Here are some things I could have done differently:

• I could have embossed the individual pieces before adhering the hats to them, but I liked the plain look.  
• I could have embossed the kraft layer before adhering the rectangles.
• I could have arranged the hats differently.

I hope you have enjoyed this card.  May your have a great week, filled with sunshine and laughter, and may you get to be creative.

Over The Moon Monday - Wedding II

Good morning.  I hope you had a great week.  The weekend is always too short for me, how about you?  

The weather here is already horribly hot.  The heat index was 110 degrees on Saturday. It was really hot the whole weekend. It's too early in the year for it to be this hot. It's not even technically summer yet.  Good weather to stay indoors and stamp, if you ask me.

Last week I showed you a wedding card I was making.  I spent the week re-doing the card, and I like how it turned out.  I will apologize in advance for the scan - lumpy cards just don't scan well, and I need batteries for the digital camera. Anyway, here is the new and improved card:

Here are the changes I made:

• I used twinkling H20's to color the embossed images.
• I matted the flowers with patterned paper.
• I made an additional flower with the patterned paper to add a little interest.

Leave a comment and let me know which one  you like best, the glittered one or the one that used twinks.

I hope you have a great week!

Over The Moon Monday - Wedding

Good morning!  I hope you are enjoying Memorial Day, which is usually a signal that summer is beginning. Please take a minute to reflect on the true reason for this holiday...the sacrifice by many men and women to give us the freedoms we enjoy today.

We had a family cookout yesterday, and we all had a really good time. Good food, good friends and family, good times.

Last week I told you I was working on a wedding card.  I finished it up, and now I'm not sure if I like it or not.  So, I will share it with you, and I welcome all comments, both good and bad. I still have some time before the wedding, so I have time to remake it, if that's what you think I should do.

Here is the card I made:

I used the dotted swiss embossing folder to make the white background.  Then I used the floral embossing folder with white cardstock.  I punched it out, using a nestability die.  Then I stamped the "love - honor - cherish" on white cardstock and trimmed it with a nestability die.  I stamped the rings using the 2nd generation stamping (stamp off once before you stamp on the project), then used twinkling H2O's to color them gold.  I matted with a patterned paper.  

I liked it at this point.  But sometimes  I can't leave well enough alone.  So I used glitters in the colors of the patterned paper to color the flowers.  I should have either left them white or watercolored them, I think.  What do you think?  Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts, both good and bad. I value your opinion.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your day...until next time...do something crafty!

Over The Moon Monday - Pick 3 Challenge

Good afternoon. Another week has flown by. It seems like the older I get the quicker time flies.  I got to do a little stamping and card making this weekend, and that's always a good thing.  My brother's birthday is coming up, and I wanted to do something for that.  And I have a wedding card to make, for my husband's nephew by marriage, but I'll save that for another post, since I have some time to get that done.

My brother has had a lot of medical problems, and I wanted to make something to remind him to count his blessings for what he has and can do, and not dwell on what he doesn't have (or can't do). I have a little stamp by Hero Arts that I think will do nicely. And so we will have a Pick 3 Challenge.

Here are the things to pick from:

• Animal
• Rivets
• Birthday
• Lace
• Patterned Paper
• Punch

Just pick 3 of the above items and share your creation via a link in the comment section. Here is my creation:

I stamped the sheep (Hero Arts) onto white cardstock and colored using Copic markers.  I used a nestability die to cut out the image.  Based on the colors I used to color the image, I chose my patterned paper for the background. 

I used the same nestability die in 2 larger sizes, once to make a mat for the image with the background paper, and a larger one on white cardstock for the final mat.

On the inside I stamped "Happy Birthday" and matted it with the same patterned paper that I used for the background. 

A very simple card that looks nice.

I hope you have a wonderful week, and I'll look forward to seeing your creations, and also seeing you back here next week for the wedding card. Until then, do something crafty!

Over The Moon Monday - Layout Challenge

Good afternoon, and welcome to Over The Moon Monday.

Today is my birthday, which is why I'm late posting.  I've just been doing everything out of order today, and it's been fun mixing things up.

I had lunch this past Saturday with my friend, Candy, and we always show each other what we've been up to stamping wise.  I always get some good ideas, and this time was no exception.  So, I would like to use my favorite one as a Layout Challenge.  My example is nowhere near as pretty as Candy's, but I'll practice up on it.

Here is the Layout I want to challenge you to use:

and here is my sample:

You can click on either picture for a larger image.

I hope you take up the challenge and post links to your creations so we can all see your beautiful artwork. I always enjoy seeing how other people interpret the challenges.

It's starting to lightning and thunder, so I'd better close for now.  I hope you have a wonderful week and you get to do something crafty.

Over The Moon Monday - Pick 3 Challenge

Good morning!  This is the last day of my mini vacation and Birthday Bash here in the Florida Keys.  The Birthday Bash is our annual celebration of all the May birthdays, anniversary, and Mother's Day, and we have 1 big party instead of 7 little ones.  Sometimes we go to a theme park, but this year we chose the Keys for a 4 day get-away.  I love the Keys, so it was a perfect choice. I have limited time, so I'll have to share the fun later.

I told you last week if we had enough comments posted I would give away blog candy.  That didn't happen, so you are stuck with another Pick 3 Challenge.  I combined this with a challenge I had to use colors that you don't usually use together, and I thought I came up with a pretty good color combination.

Here are your choices:
1.  Something summery
2.  Eyelets
3.  Fringe
4   Punch
5.  The color Yellow
6.  Glitter

Pick 3 and play along.

Here is what I made:

This is an ATC sized card using the Sun stamp and vine stamp from My Paper Moon.  The sentiment is from The Angel Company.

The challenge to me was to use 2 colors that don't usually go together.  The burgundy and bright yellow were a natural choice, once I decided what I was going to make.

I stamped the sun onto yellow cardstock.  I stamped it twice, cut out just the face of the 2nd one, and applied crystal lacquer.  Let dry thoroughly, so you don't get smudges or fingerprints in it. 

While that was drying I used the vine stamp around the edges.  I colored it in with markers, making the berries a dark red (almost burgundy).

I colored in the sun's rays, then applied glitter glue and allowed to dry.  While that was drying, I punched a piece of white cardstock, then stamped the sentiment inside with yellow staz-on ink.  I used a burgundy marker to make faux stitches around it, then applied it to the bottom portion of the ATC. 

I used a pop dot to attach the sun's face.  Then I matted the whole thing onto burgundy cardstock.

I hope you have enjoyed today's pick 3 challenge.  If you decide to do the challenge, please leave a comment, and you can even leave a link to your beautiful creation.  I get inspiration from looking at other's work, so please share with me.

Also, today is the last day of the virtual stamp convention at Rubber Stamp Chat, so if you haven't checked it out, now would be a good time to do so.  Lots of vendors and sales.

Have a great week!

Rubber Stamp Convention

Don't forget to visit Rubber Stamp Chat for a virtual stamp convention.  Lots of vendors and sales, so head on over and support your favorite vendors (or maybe find a few new favorites).  Convention runs from today through Monday, May 10th.

Over The Moon Monday - Pick 3 Challenge

Good morning!  I hope you had a great weekend. I pulled a muscle some time ago, and I keep reinjuring the same muscle before it has had time to heal, and it gave me a great deal of pain and trouble this weekend.  I have to get it better before next weekend, because we are doing our annual Family Birthday Bash (5 Birthdays, 1 Anniversary, Mother's Day, and our Anniversary).  This year we are taking everyone to the Florida Keys, since my kids and grandkids haven't been before. We are only taking a long weekend (Friday through Monday), but we'll have fun. The guys can spend one day deep sea fishing while the girls can go to Theater of the Sea for the dolphin shows, and the rest of the time we will just get some much needed R & R.

This week we will have a Pick 3 Challenge. I like those because they give you a lot of leeway. These are the things you get to choose from:

1. Lace
2. The color green
3. An animal
4. Fun Flock
5. Punch
6. Birthday

You know the drill...pick 3 of the 6 and make a card using those 3, then post a link to the comment section.  And here is my creation:

Since we have a lot of birthdays this month, I made this card for my youngest granddaughter.  She will be 7, and the colors are bright and vibrant, and something she'll love.

Anyway, for the challenge I chose a bird (animal), the color green, a scalloped border punch, and the celebrate sentiment for her birthday.  The colors are very bright (they don't show well in the scan).  I stamped the bird and colored him first, I colored the hat with bright colors, then added glitter glue for some bling. Then I punched him out with a nestability punch.  I wanted him "out of the box", so I followed the directions on Split Coast Stampers to accomplish this. 

Then I layered the cut out image on a green layer, then a red layer. I stamped "celebrate" onto yellow cardstock with green ink, then punched it out with a Fiskars scallop border punch.  I used a ruler to make faux stitches across the top. I adhered everything to the patterned background.  Inside it says "a little birdy told me it's your birthday."  Emilie will love it.

I hope you have a great week.  Even though I will be in the keys resting and relaxing, I will still have a blog entry for you next week, so see you then. Maybe if we have enough people who take the challenge and post a link (10 or more), I will give out blog candy and/or stamps.  So tell your  friends to get busy and post a link. ;-)

One last thing before I leave...over at Rubber Stamp Chat they are having a virtual stamp convention from Thursday, May 6th - Monday, May 10th.  Even though I will be gone, I will be participating in the convention, so mark your calendars and head on over to Rubber Stamp Chat on Thursday, May 6th.

Over The Moon Monday - Meet the rest of the ladies

Good morning! I hope you had a restful weekend.  I attended a bar-b-q cookoff on Saturday, and my nephew took home first place in ribs.  And they were good.  There were quite a few teams competing, so I got to sample a lot of food, and his truly were the best.  I also work for him at my day job, so I'm sure he will have a swelled head...lol. But I do love it when he brings lunch...he's a good cook.

Today I want to introduce you to the rest of the new images at My Paper Moon. I think you will like these ladies, too.

This is Winnie.

 

And Uma comes to us from India

This regal lady is Nefertiti, but she really needs to introduction.

And this is Bessie, who could be a flapper, or just an elegant lady.

Millie is an old-fashioned kind of gal, one of the early settlers, maybe.

and Athena has had poetry written to her

Yuki is a gracious geisha

And finally, here is Anna, who is a beauty.

I hope you have enjoyed meeting all my beautiful new ladies.  This is the last week they will be 10% off.  Next week we will be back to our regularly scheduled programming.

I hope you have a great week.  Do something crafty!