Happy Winter Birthday

I used Papertrey Ink stamps for this project with Close-to-My-Heart papers and inks.  The image, from Autumn Hills, was colored with CTMH alcohol markers and highlighted with a Spica gel glitter pen.  There is a lot of dimension and texture to this one - I love, love, love the way the layers came together - in real life this card is so rich looking!  Products included:  Twilight cardstock and ink, Aspen papers, and the houndstooth was from Dakota.  The sentiment inside says simply Happy Winter Birthday. 

We did get out to see The Hobbit - and the weekday matinee is absolutely the way to go - I believe there were less than 12 people in the theater!  I loved parts, didn't like parts, and look forward to part 2 as they only did half of the story.  I wasn't expecting that - but I've been ignoring the publicity on the story since I knew how it goes already and I like to make my own opinions on the "artistry" of the productions.  

I have Physical Therapy again later today - wish me luck! 

Gift Card holder

As often happens, once I pull out an old favorite stamp set I use it over and over again!  I was totally smitten by this darling gift card holder that Anna Wight made (here).  She even includes the cutting / scoring instructions which worked perfectly!  *grin*  I used a tiny velcro dot to hold the flap down.  Inside I tucked a little surprise for someone dear to me.  I think on this photo you can even see the Spica gel glitter pen that I used for the snow.  Very sparkly in real life. 

Last night Steve took me out to dinner with four of our friends.  It was lovely to see them and spend a few hours laughing and talking over good food.  I even put on eye make-up for the first time in over a month!  Being an invalid has made me lazy, I'm afraid!  Anyway, I enjoyed the evening!

We are hoping to go see The Hobbit today at a matinee.  :-)

Hugs!  

Christmas Tags

I took a break from valentine cards to create some tags to use on gifts this year.  I was especially happy with these little snowman tags.  The last time I used this stamp set, I colored the image with dye ink and a water brush.  This time I used the new CTMH alcohol markers and let-me-tell-you, the markers are awesome!  Much easier!  

Last week (Thursday) it began to rain in the Phoenix area.  We haven't had rain since August so it was a blessing!  Usually rain here is hard and fast - most of it running off in flash floods that travel away from the soil and do nothing for the plants.  The typical rains are over in an hour or two and come with strong, damaging winds.  This rain was gently and lasted three full days and nights.  My yard is sighing in relief!  The plants actually look happy!  The large pine trees in my back-yard are twinkling with dew drops!  The pitter-patter of raindrops have been nightly music for the best sleep!  I'll miss the rain - and I hope I can remember how wonderful it was for a little while!  

I know we all have heavy hearts following the most recent massacre in Connecticut.  You are not alone in your grief.  

Hugs. 

Open Stamping and other news

This card is a great example of how flexible some design layouts and even design papers can be.  Remember the Valentine I posted here?  Well, I selected this valentine for my friends at Open Stamping to make when we met this past weekend.  They seemed to love it - but I had prepped a few more cards than we used so I took the extra packets and made . . . 3 sympathy cards!  Instead of the CTMH stamps Bliss I used PTI stamp Autumn Abundance found here.  I colored the image with CTMH's new alcohol markers (golly - they are wonderful to use!).  The sentiment was from another set, Craft's Meow Hope Blooms (here); created by the uber talented Karen Baker of The Bald Dragonfly blog.  I  stamped it with Olive pigment ink from CTMH.  I've learned that pigment is better than dye ink when stamping over design papers because it is more opaque. Since the pieces were cut, these were fast to make.  It's a good thing because in my busy physical therapy life I had only an hour to work on this and Steve needed two cards.  

I cannot believe how fast the time is passing.  Tomorrow will be four weeks.  I'm discussing with my doctors how soon I might be allowed to drive, and am trying to wean myself off of the codeine pain meds.  That's going fairly well, not perfect.  By the time I've finished all my exercises, I'm just flat worn out.  Sunday was an example of how little stamina I have and I am reminded that a total knee replacement is a major surgery.

Steve is taking me to see Adams Family at Gammage auditorium tonight - I'm looking forward to it!  I am almost at a point where I can sit still, too, which will help.  LOL  

I've been visiting even if not posting.  I love the work you are all doing - my creative, artistic friends!  HUGS!!

Wednesday - 3 week anniversary of my total knee replacement, and I'm doing great!  Yesterday the staples were removed.  I had been anxious about the procedure - but honestly it didn't hurt.  Some of them felt like a pinch, but none of them "hurt".  

The photo above is the re-make of the card with the tulle skirt.  I love this version - the small hearts are a design paper that I found on-line as a free digital design.  I will need to find more red tulle to prepare for 20 cards, but it's do-able!  

I hope your week is going well.  I have made so much progress this week - it feels like I'm transitioning to a place not only better than pre-surgery, but better than I have been in 40 years!  Faster, simpler, better!  LOL

Hugs!!
 

Valentine project 1.6? I've lost count!

First, I apologize for the fuzzy photo - my light box is getting hard to reach (I plan to fix that over the next couple of days!) so I was taking this photo holding the camera at arms length - guess I'm not very steady!  LOL

I would like to include this one in the Valentine project because of the tulle skirt - I will look for an appropriate design paper for the back and pre-cut the hearts for the participants to stamp with the CTMH stamp (I love you - I love you - I love you) and if I find time, I might even pre-thread their buttons.  

This week has been a break-through week and I am so very thankful!  I mentioned in my last blog that I was being sent to the "principal's office" and that visit was definitely a crucial conversation!  We changed my medications and by mid-Tuesday I had a physical change that was nothing short of a miracle!  I actually felt something in my knee/leg "let go" - that turned out to be the muscles that had been fiercely guarding my knee so that I couldn't move it!  I went from being able to extend out to about 25 degrees to getting it to 11 degrees in 2 days.  AND I can bend the knee and walk without the walker.  Praise God!!

Hugs!!

Editing - Mad-about-you

I was playing with stamps and it occured to me that the "Mad About You" card posted in my last post would be a great easel card!  So, here it is.  Do you think the change to one color of ink for the hearts was a good thing, or not?  I didn't photograph this very well - but that's partly because the craft room is a mess and the light-box setup is inaccessible by walker!  I'll be back in business soon as I regain strength and can walk with out the dang thing!!

We are at 11 days post surgery.  I have regained some, lost some, and some has simply changed.  I have a visit with my ortho surgeon tomorrow to discuss medications and physical therapy.  I feel like a kid being sent to the principal's office.   

Hope you've had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family!  Hugs! 

Happy Saturday!  I'm so happy to be home - there is nothing as sweet as your own bed, especially when you're tired and sore.  Steve has been the best nurse ever - he is so gentle and kind yet he makes me do my exercises!  Have I mentioned that I love this man?  

Today I'm posting another sample Valentine card for the fund-raising project at church.   I borrowed an idea from Jeanette Lynton here. The moment I saw her card I saw "hearts"!  I used the Mad About You stamp set from Close-to-My-Heart but I didn't do any kissing (with the stamp anyway).  The dye colors are Blush, Cotton Candy, Hollyhock, and Ruby.  The sentiment was stamped in Cotton Candy Pigment ink.  I used a small piece of tulle bunched up to flag out from under the center medallion and clipped the ends into multiple points.  I just purchased a "gotta have it" Memory Box heart chain border die from 1-2-3-Stitch.com and used it along the inside bottom edge.  I'm going to LOVE this cutting die!

I've made a couple of cards today, and can see scrapbooking in my future!  Yippeee!!!!   It's ok if you are jealous.  I'm a little bit jealous myself!  *giggle*  That must be the drugs talking!  *giggle*

Hugs!!

Preparing 1.5

Presenting the 5th card in my series of prototypes.  This one has two Close-to-My-Heart stamp sets represented - Bliss and Truly, Madly, Deeply!  (I really LOVE that sentiment!).  I had some fun techniques to highlight with this one - the scalloped mat for the silhouette image is actually a heathered green felt cut with a Spellbinders die.  The sentiment stamped onto the design paper was inked up with pigment ink (one of the coolest new things from CTMH!) - while the script background stamp was dye ink.  The pigment inks take just a little bit longer to dry - but they are so rich looking and show up well even when stamped over another color and pattern.  I think it's neat that they're both used on the same card - it makes the point that each type has it's place in life.  For the class I'll find a better heart stamp - I had one I thought I'd like, but I stamped it twice and they got a little too close together! Maybe it's because I'm so glad my love is home that even the stamped hearts are cuddly!

Wednesday is my total knee replacement surgery.  With the appointment Tuesday I will have had a grand total of 8 office visits since the day that my surgeon said "we can't repair it any more, we're going to have to replace it" - that was in May 2012.  It seems incredible, but there was education, x-rays for measurements, lab work (and more lab work), heart testing, meeting with the Anesthesiologist, meeting with the coumadin clinic physician (to prevent clotting), and one last meeting with the surgeon.  I do believe we are all singing the same song now!  LOL  

I hope to post during my recovery - but it may be a few days before the pain meds allow me to do anything creative . . . that I'm willing to share!

Hugs!! 
 

Preparing 1.4.2

My thanks to Jeanne Tomshack for helping me figure out what to do with the card I posted last night . . . I like this one much better!  The branch & blossoms are Papertrey Ink's Out on a Limb, and the birds are from Papertrey Ink; Through the Tree's.  The sentiment is a Close-to-My-Heart from the stamp set Bliss.  

 

Here's the other re-make. I skipped the ink distressing - and used a simpler embossing folder (swiss dots).  The heart was cut out with a scalloped die and heat embossed onto design paper.  This is a smaller card (4 x 4") and the little bit of lace is a nice touch.  Instead of a window in the white piece, I just popped up the heart on adhesive foam squares.  It's pretty simple but will teach a few nifty tricks and the result is pleasing.

Gotta run - I'm picking Steve up in less than 2 hours and I need to do some primping!  :-D

 

Preparing 1.4

Another prototype card for the Valentines workshop.  This one was very simple, "almost" one layer and reminds me of a sympathy card.  LOL  Any ideas to make it less somber?  Change the ribbon?  Add a tiny sparkle to the center of each flower blossom?  Scale it sideways and add some design paper along the right-hand side under the ribbon??

It's finally Friday - only one more sleep until Steve comes home!  I've got a million things I want to do before he gets here (mostly cleaning) but I'm not sure it does any good to clean while they are still doing construction (like shoveling snow during a blizzard!).  Perhaps I'll concentrate on filling the refrigerator with his favorites and getting a pedicure (I'd like that before surgery anyway!).  

I've only had one person try to guess on the number of visits leading up to the total knee replacement - wouldn't you like to play?  

Preparing 1.2

This one used some awesome stamps I snatched at the MFT sale mentioned in my Nov. 1st post.  I love the matching dies - how did I live so long without them?  Well, I guess I know the answer to that -  while I own both of the awesome Close-to-My-Heart Cricut cartridges (Art Philosophy and Artiste) and have many stamp sets that could be cut out with the Cricut . . . well, I haven't bought a Cricut yet.  BUT I did see a coupon for $179 at J@anns soon . . . so I will be in line to get one that day (I hope they have more than one at that price)! 

OK, that was a little rambling!  Maybe I can get to the point.  This is the third design in my project to teach Valentine cards in January.  What do you think? 

Other news?  How many doctors office visits do you think it takes before you can have a total knee replacement (starting with the visit when your doctor said "we can't repair it any longer, we need to replace it")?  Write your guess in your comments and those who get it correct, will win a little surprise from me!  

Hugs!! 

 

Preparing 1.1 . . .

More about the Valentines project . . . this simple card uses a Spellbinder die cut heart opening in the center of a dry-embossed piece that has been lightly rubbed with "Cashmere" ink from Close-to-My-Heart.  I'm not sure I like the rubbed ink part, what would you do instead?  The ruby paper behind the cut-out was heat embossed with "LOVE".  All of this is on the front face of the card (the dry embossed panel is elevated on foam squares).  Not too difficult, I hope.

More progress on the barn door today - when I got home the door has been sanded and the steel bands are in place.  The hardware to hang the door is back on, and a scrap piece of wood was handy for me to examine the finish on it.  (a light oiling - definitely not shiny!).  

Work was busy today and we must be getting weather because I've had a pounding headache all day long!  Or is it just the endless political talk?

Namaste.  

Preparing . . .

I spent some relaxing hours in the craft room this past weekend working on a little project . . . it seems that I agreed to provide a card workshop in late January at my church for people who are willing to donate to support our Outreach efforts ("It's for the children").  The plan is to design 5 Valentine cards that can be taught in an afternoon session.  I have some awesome stamping friends that agreed to help me, too, if we have a big response.  This week I'll be posting the ones I come up with.  Naturally, this is one of my favorites - but I would have a bit of prep work to do (cutting all those circles with my cuttlebug and spellbinder nesties).  Still, it's so striking with the Close-to-my-Heart Flirty papers!  

Otherwise, this weekend I did chores, made a HUGE salad for a First Communion luncheon at church and spent quality time with my kitty!  Friday night was awesome as Steve had his family all at the house up North and they brought me to the party on his laptop!  It really does help keep us closer.

The good news is that Steve will be "home" Saturday.  Just 5 more sleeps!  

Hugs!  

Another partial fold card

I am so taken with this card-base type, I'll probably be on a kick with it for a few days!  LOL  This was another one I created this week with the same dimensions (which for the base is 4" x 10.5" with a score from the right at 5.5 and from the left at 2.5").  I snagged this adorable stamp on clearance sale from My Favorite Things (MFT) at this sale.  I used the Close-to-My-Heart Roxie papers and stamped the image and sentiment onto the linen-look design paper.  I need to practice coloring with the new CTMH alcohol markers - but for someone who never had a Copic class, I'm getting the hang of it.  Just think what I could do if I had a lesson!  

Remodeling update - I'm sure most of you have been through some sort of remodeling project.  And I'm sure most of you have experienced the delays, set-backs, project over-runs.  I'm so ready for my barn-door to be finished!  {deep sigh!}  This project started in May and was supposed to be done by July 4th.  Hello!?!  It's NOVEMBER now.  Bring on your sympathy!!!

On a lighter note, I had 61 trick-or-treaters for Halloween and they were darling!  One little "kitty" pointed out sweetly that I had a big cat. (Bilbo was at the door greeting everyone).  Two teens startled me with their "dark" costumes - one was The Grim Reaper ( ! ) and I stuttered - "you can have some candy, just please let me live to see the sunrise".  He stomped the scythe on the ground and solemnly swore that "it will be so" then went on to say that he would tell all of the other grim reapers to let me live.  All this with a straight face!  Probably an acting student from the school near here.  They turned at the end of the driveway and waved and said "Thanks!!".  
I love Halloween!

Hugs!

Open Stamping - Technique Sneaky Peak

This is the prototype for the Open Stamping technique next weekend.  Come and learn how to make this different kind of card.  When it's closed, the front piece matches up with the inside piece, hiding it.  And it stands by itself.  There are several tricks to learn while making this one!  It was inspired by this card by Lisa Stenz, and I used Pear & Partridge papers and Close to My Heart stamps.  Ink colors were Champagne, Olive, Ruby and Cocoa.  

It's been a wonderful weekend!  The antibiotics are kicking in and I feel human again!  The weather is holding under 100 - so it was fun to putter in the yard and I planted new flowers (luscious geraniums in various colors!) and nearly stepped on a toad trying to cut my way-too-tall grass!  I screamed like a girl - but I'm not afraid of the toad, he just startled me!  

I wish every weekend could be so relaxing!

Hope your's was awesome, too!

Namaste. 

Hopelessly lost in love

My darling husband has a compass in his car and one on his watchband, so he always knows which direction is North!  When I first spied this stamp set, I immediately thought of Steve!  The card is very straight-forward.  I used the wood-design paper from CTMH Dakota, and the stamps were from Market Street Stamps.  I colored the center of the compass with the new alcohol markers from CTMH.  

My beloved went back North yesterday (to his summer home) for a few more weeks of work up there.  I have been so worn out with the knee aggravating me and a tiresome cold!  My plans are to baby myself and feel better soon!  

Just for fun - I'm going to brag a little about his artistic abilities!  Steve created this tile floor pattern in his house in Mesa (that he's renting).

 AND here's the close up view . . .

Awesome - Possum!

Hugs!

Welcome Sweet Baby Kennadie

 

Some of my friends watched the "creative process" for this card during Open Stamping.  It was rather painful, huh!  LOL  Well, I had a vision and it took me some searching to figure out how to execute the plan. 

In my humble opinion, nothing is sweeter than a baby girl, all perfect from her head to toes and smiling as she sleeps.  I loved the recessed circles created by the punched, lifted panel.  The assortment of parent and baby images are all from a retired CTMH set - and they were so fun to color with my water brush and a few touches of alcohol markers.  On the owls, I used the Signo white pen.  After photographing the card, Steve and I both wrote our love into it and mailed it off to Minnesota. 

 

The baby girl is Steve's new foster Granddaughter, Kennadie.  Love and congratulations to Mike and Deb!  

Hugs!! 

Just a couple more . . .

This ribbon treatment is pretty cool in real life - I wasn't as happy with the candle - I used the white pigment ink on the black doily but it wasn't bright enough to suit me.  After it was good and dry I went over it with the Signo white pen.  What you can't see is that the flame is sparkly.  

This one has NO stamping at all, just a little ink on the edges of things . . . no wonder these cards were so fast to create! 

Steve and I are enjoying the time together - we've made progress on the barn door and have enjoyed loads of football and baseball games.  Steve is working on getting his house ready to rent out this winter . . . I'm hoping he'll have a photo of the tile floor when it's done.  Here's a  shot of the barn door just before the 3rd section was added . . .

Golly, I'm ready to see this thing hanging up!
Hugs!

Halloween continues . . .

Yes, another Halloween card!  I spied this orange burlap at Joanne's and immediately thought of Halloween . . . then as I wandered through the store (do you do that, too?) I saw a pack of BLACK doilies in the baking section!  WOW - how fun!!  They aren't perfectly symmetrical but I love that, too.  The bat is one of the velvety items I was yacking about on my last post . . . the frame was another one of the velvety pieces with adhesive backing that came with the kit. 

Steve comes home tomorrow!!!!  I hope I can sleep tonight - I am so excited to see him!  He has THE sweetest kisses!  {blushing}

Since I may not post tomorrow or over the weekend, I'll put up one more to hold you *wink*

    Hugs!!

A dark, haunted mansion . . .

What you can't tell from the photo is that the candlestick is velvety.  Also the cat and some other objects (a bat, a witchy hat, and maybe there was a spider, too) on that patterned paper - wish I could remember who made that pack!  It was from 2010, I'm pretty sure.  2011 was a blur of wedding preparations - so Halloween was pretty much non-existent for me last year!  LOL

Only 2 sleeps until my darling is here!  I am excited to see him . . .

Hugs! 
 

What a cute monster!

I received this card in a consultant swap last year (someone else made it but they failed to sign it!).  I modified it just a little bit . . . I do believe I have a package of these cute monsters tucked away - that might be just the thing this year for some fun (and quick) Halloween cards!  

Did I mention that I got an I-Pad?  I'm a "PC" girl - so I've got a lot to learn (everything works differently!).  But it's fun, and I've already downloaded a book to read (that's w-a-a-a-y cool!) and my shoulders are already feeling the relief just thinking about my next plane trip!  ;-)

Hugs!

It's October!!

Time for some fun and spooky cards!  I was on a roll the other night so you will be seeing some Halloween cards this week ;-)

I used all sorts of different things - papers, scraps, cardstock, some Close-to-My-Heart but some not.  I was just grabbing and going!  I have had a punch to make slots for ribbon but I don't think I've ever used it - so finally I gave it some love!  The effect is very neat - especially with the ribbon having horizontal lines that are uneven!  Houndstooth and Damask - the rage - but together, Ghastly!!  Boo!

Happy Monday, dear friends!

Clementine Birthday

I needed just one more example of the new CTMH design papers to complete my display board for the new catalog . . . Clementine!  So, using the 6 x 6 sample papers I came up with this card.  I used some bronze glitter gel to make the chocolate chips on the frosting sparkly and some clear glitter over yellow ink for the flame on the candle.  The rest is pretty self-obvious!  It's pretty paper, just not my favorite.  

The Open Stamping today was just awesome!!  There were 10 of us - and it was a blast!  I'm a little hoarse tonight - so we must have talked and laughed a LOT!  It's early to bed with me . . . work will come too soon in the morning.

Hugs!!

In Motion

This card was stamp-lifted from Haley Dyer, The Inky Scrapper, from her blog.  She is a uber-talented CTMH consultant that I visit regularly for ideas - she's so creative!  When I saw this card, I knew that I wanted to use it for the September Open Stamping technique - so friends, here is your sneaky-peak at what we'll be making on Sunday!

For the curious - in the morning light there were a few minor spots where I didn't get adequate coverage in the painting project - so tonight after work I put a second coat on it all.  It looks fabulous!  

Namaste.

3 1/2 x 3 1/2 card

This was a quick little card designed to hold a small token of my appreciation for my regular stamping buddies.  I had some scraps on the table and the next thing I knew, I had a dozen of these cute little cards!  The speech bubble was stamped in Momento tuxedo black ink, allowed to dry completely, and then colored with the new CTMH alcohol markers.  They are really fun!  I used a Copic pen (number unknown) to shadow the elements a little bit.  This is another example of what the new Artiste cartridge could have cut out for me - but since I don't have a Cricut (yet) I cut the image by hand.  Is it weird that I kind of like hand-cutting?   It's relaxing . . .

Well, the painting is going great guns!  I got one coat on the barn door walls.  I'll have to check the front room in daylight to see how the coverage is - I was painting over a sage green color in there and the new color is called Cinnamon (think dusty peach) - so I'm thinking it will want two coats.  If I'm not too exhausted after work tomorrow, maybe I'll get that next coat on before the sun goes down.

Hugs!!

Country Life

I fell hard for the rooster, and the lamb in the stamp set Country Life (C1498) from Close-to-My-Heart.  The cow is pretty cool, too.  LOL  This was very quickly colored using the new alcohol markers in shades of Honey and Tulip.  I used a silver pen to fill in the stars - you can't tell but they are shiny.  This was really very simple - quick to make!  

I'm blogging instead of getting my you-know-what out of this chair and onto a ladder!  I need to be painting but somehow I keep finding other things that "need" to be done!  So - forgive me, but I am actually going to go do it now!  I'll post again soon!

Hugs!

Monograms

These cards came about in an interesting way - I had a stack of RSVP cards left-over from the wedding last year.  They were printed on creamy heavy cardstock and clean on the inside.  In a moment of inspiration, I saw that I could make a card front to cover the RSVP information and I would have a set of small-ish (3 1/2" x 5") cards for general notes that either I or Steve could use!  The envelopes were already stamped (with forever stamps, thankfully) so I was good to go!  The new monogram stamps from Close-to-My-Heart are $2.95 and just wonderful!  You can see what a pretty image they give!  The stamp doesn't include the brown / green border circle - that came out of another set.  If I had a Cricut I could have used it to cut out the image with the new CTMH Artiste cartridge but in this case I did it by hand while talking to Steve on Skype one evening.  The only other "trick" was that I used a little piece of string to tie up the center of the 2" wide silk ribbons so they would gather up under the monogram medallion.  Easy!  AND - fairly flat - no bumps to require extra postage.

It's Saturday (finally) and I'm expecting the barn-door contractor to show up in a little while.  He's bringing over the hardware, but ALAS, not the door yet.  Why, oh why is it so hard to get remodeling done on a time line?  We should have had this done by the 4th of July.  {deep sigh}

I hope your weekend is filled with fun and friends!
Namaste.

A Gift Certificate card Using Origami papers

This is a cross-over card with a "tag" insert.  I haven't made one in awhile but I still love the design and effect!  I had some beautiful origami papers that were a gift that I'd been hoarding (for years now!) and decided that it was time to use them!  Let them out of the box - let their light shine!  The zig-zag ribbon was a whim - and it seems to work alright.  The first photo is the card all put together.  The 2nd photo is with the tag pulled up and the last one shows the back-side of the tag.  

It's been awhile since I posted!  I went up to visit my darling husband for a couple of weeks and brought home a nasty cold that has had me dragging my rear-end!  Work, Sleep, Repeat.  But this weekend, finally, I felt good enough to spend a couple of hours in the craft room.  Ahhh, what a delight!  I crave time in the craft room.  I need it.  I know you understand.

Namaste.

Dakota - 2nd Consultant Swap card

Now that the Close-to-My-Heart unit swap is completed I can post my contributions!  This one uses the Dakota papers, a new "quickie" stamp called Bountiful Season, and the awesome burlap ribbon in the new catalog.  I stamped the focal point in Barn Red and with a sponge dauber, added Goldrush to the leaf.  Then I went back with a small eye-shadow blender and added a little more of the Barn Red along some edges.

Friday night was fun - I will try to photograph the other swap cards and post them this week.  Excellent work by my unit sisters!  Joanne Zubal is my up-line and her DH (Bob) decided that we needed grilled hotdogs, corn on the cob, and munchies to have enough energy for our meeting.  WOW - that was a nice surprise!  I know we all love it when our families are supportive of our art-work.

Well, I'd better get off the computer and get this house set up for our Open Stamping!  I've gotta get extra tables out, cut up fruits and veges, and set out the chocolate treats!  Yummm.  Oh, wait, we are working on our scrapbooks, right?  ;-)

Flirty Card for a Consultant Swap

The new Close-to-My-Heart catalog has some wonderful papers and stamps!  This paper is from a set called "Flirty".  It's autumn colors (my favorite!) and the stamps are so fun!  I think the leaf stamps alone made the whole set worth getting!  My quarterly unit meeting is this weekend and this is one of the papers I promised to bring for our demo board swap.  

So, Friday night I get to see my stamping sisters, and Sunday is Open Stamping at my house when my friends come and bring their scrapbooks etc. to work on.  We always have fun on those days!  It's beginning to look like another awesome weekend!

Hugs!

Masculine Birthday card

This was a fun card to make - I had a stamp to do the "train engineer" stripes and had never shown it any ink!  Time to fix that little oversight!  The car is from PTI (I believe) and I stamped it on design paper and fussy-cut it out  (completely forgetting that I also have that die and could have just die-cut it out - silly me!).  Where the windshield should be I inserted a piece of clear acetate.  I'm not sure that shows up in this photo.  I love this card for it's simplicity and that it's just a little quirky.  After all, who would have a navy car with white circles all over it?  

I had a fabulous weekend - I went with a dear friend up to her mountain retreat and we scrapped and watched the Olympics and basically just relaxed all weekend!  It was AWESOME!  I feel refreshed and am finishing the laundry now - nearly ready for the new week.  Did you have a good weekend?

Hugs!

A little birdie told me . . .

This card was a design put out for a challenge that I didn't enter and I can't remember where. The birdie is a Waltzingmouse Stamps one - I believe the sentiment "a little birdie told me" is also, but the sentiment in the octagon was a Close-to-My-Heart stamp.  I really should be better about keeping track of what supplies I'm using, huh. ;-)

What a day today!  My first appointment was 7 AM so I was out of the house at 6, and I got home from work tonight at 7:15 PM.  I'm checking e-mail, facebook and the blog then heading into the craft room to play until bed-time.  I've earned it!  

I can't believe tomorrow is Thursday already - where do the days go?!

Hugs!

Anniversary cards!

I'm barely keeping my head above water (ok, I'm not really succeeding) with birthday cards, and then I decided to send a batch of anniversary cards!  Yikes!  What was I thinking?!  Well, to be honest, I think it's because I'm so smitten with my own darling husband, that I want to celebrate love every where I see it!  I have many friends who have been excellent examples of what a loving marriage should be - and they should be told that I'm so happy for them!

I imitated a card I saw on-line a while ago - the photo was in a stack of papers from over a year ago.  I think it must have been Heather Nichols but I couldn't find her post to link you back to her, it just looks like her style.  I used all Close-to-My-Heart products in my version.

Steve went back to his home in Minnesota today.  We will be apart until my next time off when I will fly up and join him for a vacation.  This visit was so delightful partly because we started out in North Carolina visiting my daughter and her fiancee.  The week was not too busy (although we did lots of things together!) and we enjoyed good food (my daughter and future son-in-law are both excellent cooks!), beautiful scenery, and great conversation.  It helped that I didn't have to set the alarm every morning!  I much prefer waking up when I'm ready.  ;-)

Are you planning one last trip before school starts?  
Hugs!
  

Retirement Card

A colleague and wonderful friend from work is retiring the end of this week.  I am so excited for her - she already has plans for travel, and spending more time with her grandchildren . . . imagine the possibilities!  The stamp for this card was in the Close-to-My-Heart July Stamp of the Month!  The paper is the fabulous Roxie. I would have posted the card earlier but I needed to wait for Diana's send-off before putting it up on my blog.  

Steve is still here so I'll keep this short!  I'm sure you understand ;-)
Hugs!!

NOT embossed!

I felt compelled to post something that was NOT heat embossed!  This card used a very, very old Close-to-My-Heart stamp set that I bought at Joanne's yard sale for "pennies".  It was mounted on wood blocks!  I've completely forgotten how to stamp with wood mounted rubber stamps - so I took them apart, cut them down a little more and used them on an acrylic block.  That helped - but it still was different.  The card is pretty simple - a trio of rectangles popped up over a trio of same color mats that have scallops.  The lace was used "as is" - no dressing for the rough edge - I just put it on there (I kinda like the rough edge).  The sentiment is a Waltzingmouse Stamps one.  If you can't tell, the colors used are Petal and Sweet Leaf.  The day I made this card I was on a creative roll - and made two of everything I tried to create.  I'm glad to have some cards ready to send in my stash again.  It's been awhile since I've been ahead of the card game.  

Hugs! 

More embossing!

Am I the only one that gets "hung up" on a technique and uses it over and over for awhile?  Lately it's been heat embossing.  LOL  The brown piece used a stamp of script from Papertray Ink (I think!) on white cardstock.  I clear embossed that, then after it was heat-set and cooled down, I rubbed Distress Ink in Vintage Photo directly to the paper.  It made a wonderful dark brown.  After it was completely dry, I embossed the "Goldrush" blossom and "Olive" stem/leaf.  This little piece is quirky and sweet at the same time.  The rest of the card is pretty self explanatory.  I used paper from Elemental on the bottom edge, and some strips of left-over design paper to imitate ribbon across the front.  I like how it turned out!

I received my first shipment of new Close-to-My-Heart toys and let me tell you, the new ink colors are so rich and pretty!  I guess we did need an update.  It inspired me to pull the retired colors from my wall, re-arrange into color groups (something I've not done before - it's always been organized by season) and then attacked my paper storage to do the same thing.  It was therapeutic and inspiring!  I have a stack of retired paper . . . some I'll hoard in case I need to match an older design paper pack or something but I think some of it I'll hand off to a not-for-profit group that works with needy kids; it would help replenish their arts & craft supplies.  

Hope you have a wonderful week!
Namaste.

Technique card from Open Stamping 7/16/12

As promised, here was the technique we did on Sunday.  I had prepared the design paper by heat embossing three of the Rosy Regards along the bottom edge.  The technique to learn was to sponge color into the roses, trim the edge and insert another color behind it to let it "pop".  Then the artist was able to select a sentiment for their card - some used the one I did here, some used Happy Birthday or Friendship.  All of the cards were lovely!

Remodeling is on hold until my joints are less inflammed.  I'll feel better soon . . . I should know better than to over-do it at work and at home the same week!  LOL

Have you been seeing the Close-to-My-Heart news?!  They reduced the color palette from 60 to 40 and added 6 new updated colors.  I noticed that there will be some "special engagement" colors, too.  What I mean by that is that in the paper packs they have included colors that are not in the color palette - for instance, in the new "Flirty" paper, there was a color Raspberry but there isn't any Raspberry ink or cardstock.  I'll try to post other news as I remember it!  

Hugs!