Playing with new stamps!

Do you buy stamps and then never use them? I have been guilty of that and I'm trying to turn over a new leaf! My trick is to leave the new stamps on my work table until at least some of them have ink on them!  LOL  

This was a new Close to My Heart B-size stamp set called Love This. I used the new ShinHan markers, olive ink on the leaves and black ink for the sentiment (another CTMH stamp).  The center of the flower was colored with a yellow pencil (only because I don't have any yellow ShinHan markers yet) and then some Sakura Clear Star gel pen over that part to make it sparkle.  It could have been a single layer card if I'd planned ahead with a mask - but instead the flowers were done on the side and cut out.  

So, it's September already?!  Wow, summer has gone fast up here in the beautiful lake country of Minnesota.  I am reluctant to see the days getting shorter and the nights cooler.  The autumn plants are the only ones left blooming . . . you sure do experience the seasons here! Having lived in Arizona (Phoenix area) most of my life this is very different and I do like it. We won't be staying for the brutal winter however.  *wink*

Hugs!

Owls!

The CTMH Stamp of The Month for August was simply fantastic!  I hope you had a chance to get this one - it has cute potential for Halloween, but there are also other fun things you can do!  I stole this idea from Vicki Wizniuk here.  Vicki inspires me every day!  

Just a note, the bottom owl (pink version) has a strip of pink glitter paper.  It looks totally purple in the photo! Strange.  These were fun!  

Happy Labor Day!

Scooter!

These notecards were inspired by the fabulous Lisa Stenz here.  I absolutely fell hard for the scooter in one of the new Holiday stamp sets.  Who says the scooter has to be used just for Christmas!?!  

The four new Close to My Heart colors are represented, Glacier (upper left) Pixie (upper right), Canary (lower left) and Thistle (lower middle).  The other two colors are Sweet leaf and Sorbet.  I didn't have the new paper fundamentals yet for all of these (like Lisa used), but I had some design papers with those colors to highlight how awesome these colors can be!  For a change I decorated the envelopes, too.  This was all packaged up as a gift for a dear friend.  

I need to take some photos of my remodeled work space . . . 

It's time to restock my card stash.  I started with this one because I was inspired to try watercoloring the butterfly.  It turned out alright - but I felt it needed something more (the stamped lines were Glacier color, like the body of the butterfly, and it just looked "blah").  I grabbed my gel pen and added just a little glimmer.  

Now that the remodeling of the space where I do my art work is completed, I finally have time to play again!  It's a good thing since all I was doing was shopping and my budget can't afford that tactic! Hugs!

Wedding cards . . . or Annniversary!!

This card was so much fun to make (but remember, I like to color!).  

I used the new CTMH stamp set called Celebrate Love Occasions. I also used CTMH inks and their new ShinHan alcohol markers as well as a couple of Prisma watercolor pencils.  (the purple and greens).  Then I randomly cut around the image at the bottom of my white piece (with the flower decoration) and layered it over a bright design paper from Pebbles.  Very fun!

This card was scrap-lifted from Lucy Abrams.  She is a popular artist and I can't find where the card was posted (perhaps it was pulled for publication?) but you can see her fabulous blog here.  I used different paper, color scheme, an extra layer, used two different size butterflies for the openings, and placed my sentiment in a different spot, but basically it is her card!  This was really quick and I love the effect!

Have I mentioned that summer in Minnesota is amazing!?  I am loving the outdoor time, the beautiful GREEN colors and the wildlife is fantastic! The other day we were at Grandview Lodge and I was delighted to watch a black squirrel and a gray squirrel playing together.  They are so much fun to watch - I could just daydream and watch their antics all day. 

Hugs! 

Sad and Happy

I'm sad, because my local scrapbook store is closing. But I'm also happy, because I was able to pick up a lot of great items at reduced prices.  The owners had such an up-beat attitude, it reminds me of how very positive people are in Minnesota.  So, no tears here - just looking forward to new beginnings and, on my part, playing with my new toys.

The stamps are My Favorite Things and had coordinating dies to cut the flowers and leaves.  I used Close-to-My-Heart inks (Blush, Hollyhock, Tulip and Lagoon) and cardstock (Pixie) and the design papers were from Pebbles.  

There is no place like HOME!

 These bicycle cards were inspired by a recent trip that included wandering through a Paper Source store.  The inspiration card was a CAS design with a single bicycle.  I used all CTMH stamps, ink, and paper and added just a little more detail.  I love this card!

The title of my post?  Steve's daughter Melissa and her husband Jim gave birth to Thomas James (TJ) on July 2nd.  Today, nearly 4 weeks later, TJ was discharged from the neonatal ICU to go home!  What a blessing!  

It is good to be home!
Hugs!