Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Relax!


Isn't this the truth?  We are always on the go with a zillion things to do and never enough time to fit it all in.  Stamping is relaxing though, and I had a lot of fun coloring this zany cow (On the Moove) from the August Collection from Chicken Girl Design Stamps available at i {heart} papers. This cute digi image is also available separately!

I colored my image using Copic Markers (available at ihp!) and then used my Rolodex punch on the side for some texture.  The cute DP is from my stacks and stacks and stacks of oodles of 12 x 12 paper that I need to use!

I added some sparkle with atyou Spica Glitter Pens - my new favorite embellishment!  You can find the pens at ihp HERE. Click on the photo above for a close-up of the sparkle!

Thanks for stopping by today - wish I was going to go relax, but I am off to play rehearsal!  Enjoy your day!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Falling Leaves

The season is changing.......

I have to admit, I do love summer.  I like it hot and I love the sunshine.  But then that little hint of fall comes, and I remember how much I love fall.  It's just always so short around here!

Last night we enjoyed a fun picnic/cookout with friends.  As the sun went down, the sweatshirts came out, and the firepit was going strong.  It was a beautiful night.  First football game of the season for our high school too.  My daughter is a senior this year, and she had a fun time being a "Rowdy."  Yesterday we found out she will play the Wicked Witch of the West in their production of "The Wizard of Oz."  We are so excited!

All of us will be at play rehearsal now as Dave and I are working on "The Hound of the Baskervilles" for a September 30 opening.  He plays Sherlock Holmes and I am Dr. Mortimore (changed to a female in the play). Lots of fun things going on as the beginning of fall comes.

So today I would like to share a fall card with you.


My images are by Hambo Stamps. I stamped the leaves with VersaMark Onyx Black, then watercolored, using reinkers and an aqua brush. I pierced the lower right-hand corner.


Each of the leaves are then outlined in Buttermilk atyou Spica Glitter pen. Click the picture below for a close-up glittery look!


Thanks for stopping by today! Enjoy your weekend!

Stamps: Hambo Stamps
Paper: Canson watercolor, Twilight DP (Memory Box), Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red
Ink: VersaMark Onyx Black, Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke, Marigold Morning, Tangerine Tango, Only Orange, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Chai Distressing Ink (PTI)
Accessories: Buttermilk atyou Spica Glitter pen (Copic), Kiwi Lime cordorouy brad, Linen Thread, paper piercer, oval punch
Techniques: watercolor





Sunday, August 22, 2010

Gratitude

For today's SCS Featured Stamper Challenge 185: PrincessHeather!
Congratulations to Heather! Love her gallery and her sweet personality.

Here is her pretty Mediterranean Butterfly card I cased. I changed the layout somewhat, images, and substituted designer paper for the back Cuttlebug panel.

I LOVE to watercolor. I have been so focused on trying to learn Copics that I haven't done it in ages. Now I remember why I love it!

My image is stamped in VersaMark Onyx Black and watercolored using Brilliant Blue - a color I hardly ever use. Heather said she hardly ever used Night of Navy and used it on her card, so I kept with that theme too. I used an atyou Spica Glitter Pen to highlight the butterfly. Click on the picture below to see it.

 Thanks for stopping by today!  I so appreciate you!  Tomorrow I will have a yummy recipe that is super easy so come back!

Stamps: Measure of a Life (SU!)
Paper: Night of Navy, Brilliant Blue, Naturals Ivory, Canson Watercolor, Basic Grey Wisteria DP
Ink: VersaMark Onyx Black, Brilliant Blue, Spica Glitter Pen
Accessories: organdy ribbon, lace, MS border punch, Kaiser pearls, distressing tool
Techniques: watercolor, distressing



Friday, August 20, 2010

It's Friday Friends With Flair and Time for Sweet Nothin's!


You know when you find something that you really love that you just have to have? Well, I was buying yarn today for an afghan I am making and I found this fun and funky button trim. I just had to have it!

And then I looked at the price tag....... $11.99 a yard!! Ack!! How can trim be that much? Well, I didn't end up with yards and yards of it - just 1/3 yard with my 40% off coupon for Hobby Lobby. And I still love it!


Images are by Unity Stamp Co. I stamped in VersaMark and embossed my images, then colored with Copics and Spica Glitter pens (LOVE those). I pierced the lower right corner, and added pearls.

And on a side note, I am going to be the proud owner of Eco Chic!  I won it on AJ Otto's blog yesterday!  Woot!

To see all the blogs participating in today's hop, click here on the Unity blog~!  Keep looking for that Flair! Happy Stamping!



Stamps: Unity Stamp Co. KOTM
Paper: Glitter Sweet DP by DCWV, PTI White, Bliss Blue
Ink: VersaMark, Copics
Accessories: button trim, Spellbinders oval die, champagne pearls (Kaiser), Charcoal EP
Techniques: piercing, embossing, sponging

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Pretty Purr-ty!

I made this fun and sweet card for yesterday's SCS Color Challenge: Always Cherry Pink

I used one of the new August digi images from Chicken Girl Designs Stamps called Lookin' Purrty available at i {heart} papers. Heavyweight Copic CS, Spica pen and Copics I used are also available at i {heart} papers!

I used to put Primas on every single card I made and haven't done it in awhile. I probably overdid it here, but I like pink! I don't even own a pair of pinking shears (not even in decorative scissors)! Wow. So I used rickrack to simulate that somewhat. Pinking shears were an optional addition in the challenge. The crown was colored and then I added some shimmer with a Spica Glitter pen.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!  You are purr-ty nice!

Stamps: Lookin' Purty by Chicken Girl Design Stamps available at IHP
Paper: Baroque Burgundy, Bravo Burgundy, Heavyweight Copic White, Basic Grey DP, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Copics, Purely Pomegranate (sponging)
Accessories: pink pearls (Kaiser), Prima flowers, MS branch punch, EK Success border punch, lace, pink rickrack, Spellbinders dies, Spica Glitter pen, Jolene's flower


Tuesday, August 17, 2010

I Love All Things Sparkly! (and sprinkly too!)



As I announced a few weeks ago, I am the August Guest Designer for Sparkle N Sprinkle.  If you have never been to their website or blog, you MUST go!  There are videos and samples, tips and tricks! They have the most wonderful colors and textures for Embossing Powders and Glitters (sparkly and sprinkly!) and their stamps are such high quality and deeply etched.  There are designs to please everyone!


For my card today I used one of the new SNS sets: Ocean Treasures. This dreamy ocean set has wonderful sentiments and some beautiful artwork. The circle sentiment says "Ocean treasures left on the shore, Nature's gift to adore." The sand dollar is stamped twice and popped up.

I stamped the image in VersaMark ink, then embossed with Ocean Spark Embossing Powder, also available at Sparkle N Sprinkle. It has a beautiful glittery sheen, which doesn't show up in the photo. I colored my image with Copics.

Check out the SNS Blog today to see this card and some super fun games and challenges to play!

Stamps: Ocean Treasures (Nature's Gift 2131-404M) by Sparkle N Sprinkle
Paper: Prism Super Smooth White, PTI White, Baja Breeze, Cool Caribbean, Bo Bunny DP, Pink Pirouette
Ink: VersaMark, Copics
Accessories: Ocean Spark EP (SNS), Doodlebug shell brad, Spellbinders dies, Kaiser pearls, SU! ribbon, Cuttlebug Swirls EF, scalloped scissors


Saturday, August 14, 2010

Lavender Salts

I was honored to be asked by Stef, the hostess of the SCS Inspiration Challenge, to make a sample for today's challenge.  Here it is!


Stef had chosen a delightful website to use for inspiration called Decade Gifts.
I was inspired by the lavender bath salts set here. I simply loved the site for this week's challenge and had a wonderful time browsing!
I made my Polished Stone Technique using Glossy White CS, Lavender Lace, Brocade Blue and Elegant Eggplant inks, along with Encore Gold.

For a Polished Stone tutorial (there are lots of ways to do it, but the tutorial is how I do it!), click here.

This card is 6" square.

Thanks for stopping by today!
 
Stamps: French Script & Petal Prints (SU!)
Paper: Prism Brushed Metallic Gold, Glossy White, Poppyfinch DP (Memory Box), Elegant Eggplant, Bliss Blue, Textured Eggplant (The Paper Studio)
Ink: Lavender Lace, Elegant Eggplant, Brocade Blue, Encore Metallic Gold
Accessories: organdy ribbon, stick pin (Heidi Grace), pearls (Kaiser), eggplant grosgrain ribbon
Techniques: Polished Stone

Friday, August 13, 2010

Just Be-Caws

First of all, I want to give a huge shout out to my friend, Monica over at Hambo Stamps! Today is her birthday! Happy Birthday, Monica! Hope it's wonderful!

In her honor, I made this card for the SCS Free for All 25 Challenge today.  I used two of my favorite Hambo Stamps: Crows and Just Be-Caws.


My images are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and then colored with Copic Markers. I sponged clouds in the background, but was too "cautious" and didn't make them dark enough to show up here. Use your imagination! :)

Lori Craig was such an amazing instructor at our Copic Certification last week in Lincoln.  We had a great time and she taught me a lot!  So this is my second card using the techniques she taught.  Thank you, Lori, for being patient and so much fun!  I enjoyed lunch too!
Lori and me!

Thanks for stopping by today!  I enjoy reading all your comments!


Stamps: Hambo Stamps: Crows - 3820 and Just Be-Caws - 3808
Paper: PTI White, Prism Super Smooth White, Textured Gold (The Paper Studio), DP by Cosmo Cricket, Basic Black
Ink: Memento Black, Copics
Accessories: black brads, Spellbinders dies, circle punch, dotted grosgrain ribbon

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Just Lion Around!

Today is Release Day for Chicken Girl Design Stamps at i {heart} papers! And I am very excited about this month’s release: four super cute designs for all occasions! They are available individually for $2.50 or as the complete August Collection for a discounted price of $8.50.


If you have never ordered digi stamps before, check out THIS POST.
I used Just Lion Around for my card today.  I printed my image on Heavyweight Cardstock and colored my image with Copic Markers, both of which are available at i {heart} papers!

 
And check out the rest of the Design Team's fantastic ideas! You won't want to miss them!


Would you like to own your choice of one of these images for free??

All you have to do is visit each of the Design Team members' blogs above, leave them a comment, then come back here and leave me a comment on this post as to your favorite August image! I will draw a random winner on Thursday, August 12 (and yes, I will check to see if you went to each blog!)!

Today is Back to School for me - first day of four teacher workdays and then the kids come on Monday.  Where did summer go?
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

WHAT I HAVE FOR SALE