Hello There!

Hello! I'm sure glad I finally figured out a way to post from my I-pad. It wasn't easy, let me just say that! 

What was easy is this card! I used a new Papertray Ink stamp set that I suspect will be a favorite for many, many things! The paper is from the Close to My Heart Dream Pop pack, it is the backside of a bright card we made at open stamping a couple of months ago.

The sentiment is part of the zip-strip from the papers. It went together in a fraction of the time it's taken me to create this post!  

I'm counting hours now until my flight out to North Carolina. My darling daughter is getting married next Saturday! I'm so excited!!! With any luck I'll be able to post again on the road but if not, know that I'm thinking of you and I promise photos soon! 

Hugs!

A sneaky peek at NEW Close to my Heart stuff!

 

The new Close-to-My-Heart catalog will be available to everyone starting August 1st and there are some pretty wonderful new things in this one!  Wowie!!  This darling little stamp is just one example - wait to you see all the terrific new things!

My daughter is getting married next week - I am so stinkin' excited!!  She and her Beloved are so good together; I am so happy for them both!  I'll try to post on the road, but I do seem to have mixed results with the I-Pad approach to blogspot - not sure why it's so challenging!  

Anyway - enjoy this little peek (the papers were from Dream Pop - the annual Scrapbook special that comes in late Spring!).  Hugs!! 

Weekends are too short!

I have a huge list of cards that need to be completed this weekend and it's Sunday morning already!  Yikes!  This one was a 10 minute (give or take a few) card - I used Dream Pop papers and added a little edge-ink and zipper ribbon (all Close-to-My-Heart products) and voila!  

I awoke before the alarm today!  That is so rare for me I feel like I should shout it from the rooftop!  I feel refreshed and ready for church and then play time later.  I hope your weekend is full and rewarding and that you're also getting your batteries recharged!

Namaste.

Another card from the Brainerd studio

As I was looking for another photo on my I-pad tonight I saw this one that I'd completely forgotten!  We used it for a sympathy card.  It is a retired CTMH stamp set, with design papers that I bought at the scrapbook store in Brainerd last year (I.e. I don't remember who made them).  There is some dimension to the card but it is understated.  

I was out running errands today in the heat. I had forgotten how exhausting that can be!  Thankfully tomorrow afternoon I'll be comfortably at home with my friends who are coming over to scrapbook here!  Hope you're having a good weekend, too!  Hugs!

Open Stamping Technique Preview

This is the card we will make on Sunday June 30. Same time same place - I hope to see everyone there!! The two things this card highlights is making the rolled roses, and dry embossing / sanding the leaves for detail. 

I've enjoyed the Minnesota trip very much! This morning we awoke to thunder and rain! I sat on the couch sipping my coffee and watching the rain for almost an hour.  I don't see rain much living in the desert and the beauty of the green, lush plants and the diamond-like sparkle of the water drops when the sun came out are treasured memories for me! 

Namaste.

The Brainerd Studio is Open!

When I got to Minnesota I learned that friends were getting married and we needed a card! So,  let me present the first card made in my new studio!!  I found the reverse image cling stamp (un-certain who?) in one of the first boxes I unpacked and had a vision of this card.  I mumbled "if only I have a script background" and to my complete delight I found a CTMH background stamp set that my dear friend Jone gave me as a studio warming gift (along with many other must-have-in-both-studios stamp sets). Thanks Jone!!  I stamped the wedding sentiment in olive, heat embossed it w/ clear, then used sponge daubers to ink in honey, blush, and hollyhock inks.  I put olive on the few stems and leaves but it looks more brownish.  Okay by me!  

We have had so much fun! If forced to pick a favorite activity it would be watching Steve's grandsons play baseball.  They have grown so much this last year!!  

Another chalkboard technique

I have had some fun with the chalkboard technique!  Recently I was cleaning up the craft room and spotted a little used (and long ago retired) stamp set and I immediately saw this curvy border. That's one of the things I LURVE about acrylic stamps - that you can curve them into different shapes!  The striped paper is another retired find - but the sentiment is a current Close-to-My-Heart.

I'm up in Brainerd visiting my Love for a couple of weeks.  Yesterday I set up my studio here! It is just starting but already workable! Opening the boxes of supplies that I'd mailed to myself up here was like the best Christmas ever!!  OMGSH!!

We've had fun with the family and relaxing and spiritual walks in the forest.  I'm going with Melissa to yoga in a few minutes and am just thrilled that she asked me to come!  

More later!  Namaste.