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!

Hello little doggy!

During June, when CTMH had their buy 2, get one free stamp set special, I picked up this cute little stamp.  I don't have a dog, but I have friends who do and you never know what message you might want a cute little doggy to carry for you!  This one was a simple "hello".

Open Stamping was today and we had fun!  The "technique" card was just a little different from the one I had posted - I changed it last night.  I'll photograph it and post soon . . .

Most of the clean up is done - my friend helped me before leaving (especially with the heavy stuff - my neck is not a happy neck!).  I love the new room Steve has created for us - it is very easy for us to spread out and be creative but still be in visual and audible space together. 

Have a wonderful week - go out there and make a difference!

Namaste.

Heat Embossed Medallions

I will be teaching this technique tomorrow at my Open Stamping day - the lacy medallion is heat embossed on White Daisy cardstock with clear embossing powder and then Buttercup ink was sponged over the medallions.  The center one was stamped using Sorbet on a design (polka-dot) yellow piece that came with the limited time special called Dotty for You.  That's what the sentiment was stamped on as well - and the layer between the card base and the white piece.  It's fairly simple, but a good, versatile design.  I'm fairly certain we've done heat embossing before but it's been years.  

The room is making progress.  I have suffered headaches, neck pain, and my sinuses are weird this week (sanding drywall?) so I have slowed down on the wall work.  This weekend will most likely be very relaxed - some craft room time, laundry, listening to music and perhaps reading a book that I've been trying to get to for over a year.  Our temps are low (under 100) and there is a good possibility for that wet stuff that falls out of the sky - what is it?  Oh!  Right!  Rain!

Hugs!!

Sunflowers and Grace

I love the sunflowers that were the stamp of the month in May (from Close to My Heart).  They are so pretty and I don't think I'll ever have too many sunflower stamps!  This card was a case from Aaron Brown.  I'm not sure if it counts as a "case" when you basically copy!  I used a different (Verve) sentiment stamp because I'm sending it as a "thinking of you" card for a friend in need.  I love how Aaron used the small tag and let the flower fall off three sides of it - very interesting!  Aaron is one of my go-to blogs for ideas (I really should link to her blog on my sidebar!)

I think I may have mentioned that Steve and I are remodeling the house right now.  I'm already loving the new look - thought I'd share a little!

 And here's a closer look at the tile repair he did where the wall used to be - isn't this just a perfect tile job??

I joked that the only difference is that the new grout is clean and that it would be easier to make the new dirty to match the rest of the floor than to clean the grout that was there before!  (that part wasn't really a joke!)

I'll try to remember to post more remodel photos as progress is made.  So far, it's exciting and wonderful and only a little, wee bit inconvenient. 

A quick reminder - Open Stamping is this Sunday afternoon.  Can't wait to see my scrapping friends again - it seems like forever since we've played!

Hugs!

This card was so much fun - the stamps are called Thanks Bee to Thee from the craft's meow.  I had a blast selecting colors, and using the various patterns to make the design. I didn't see the shadow over the Bee until too late - but if you could see the card in real life you'd note that the wings were dressed up with the sparkle pen and I used micron black pens to draw in the dark stripes on the bee (I thought it should be both black and yellow).  Since the sentiment I wanted was simply "Bee You"  I used the bee image for the first word, and masked the stamp from the set that said You are.  

I'm loving that we have TWO Fridays this week - today was great!  Very productive and flew by quickly!
Hope your weekend plans include some crafty time - MINE WILL!

Namaste.
 

Life Unscripted

These little 3x3 cards came together in a flash - using the Close To My Heart Quick Card - Butterfly.  This is an "A" stamp (only $6.95).  I used a sentiment from another set - and was careful when stamping so that the sentiment that is on this stamp was "off the paper".  I love the effect!  I must give credit - I was inspired by Lisa Stenz on this post.

Today was a fabulous day - I set the alarm and got up early to do yard work in the coolness of the morning.  It was perfect weather, and in fact it stayed nice all day long!  In Mesa, we even got a little rainfall - making everything smile!  The yard looks good and I am tired / happy!

What exciting things did you do for the 4th of July?