Finally working again!

Yay! Finally this crazy laptop is working again! I have an all new OS installed and am working on adding all the 'extra' programs that make life easier on the computer. However, my posting will still be a little sketchy. My grandpa is in the ICU down in southern New Mexico. So... dh, ds & I will be in the car tomorrow on our way down. I will have connection, but, well, you just never know....

So anyway, I thought I'd drop a little eye candy here while I'm able. :) Here's a card I made by accident. It was not at all what I intended, but I don't really think I had much intention when I started - just kinda slapped things together that I thought looked good.

When I look back at the things that I've posted I notice a lot of black. Hmmm, guess it seems like the perfect pair of shoes to me! :) I just like how it makes rich color *POP*, makes it seem more finished somehow.

I hope you enjoy. See you soon!

Recipe: Black & white c/s, fibers from Fibers by the Yard, blue Perfect Pearls by Ranger, Brilliance black ink, Gold Opalite ink, Waterfall ink pad from Ranger, Heart & Swirls bkgrd from Stampin Up, music from Club Stamp, squares from Stampabilities, and I can't even FIND my dancer stamp... think a little boy got to it?! *lol*

Joseph's Coat

Hi all! Today is special for two reasons: first, it's Talk Like a Pirate Day (isn't that awesome?) and second, it's DH's birthday! Happy birthday husband, and many, many more! *mwah*

You, of course, are not here to talk like a pirate or hear about DH's birthday... so how 'bout a card instead?

I happen to really like this card even though it took a lot of trial and error. This is my take on Joseph's Coat - although I did tweak it a little. The actual technique calls for glossy paper and permanent ink on top. I found that I got better results on regular card stock, and used Black Soot Distress Ink instead of permanent ink. I used a multi color dye ink pad for both the base of the piece and for the flower cut out (it's the same stamp). I cut and matted the rectangles before adding some ribbon. A little glitter for the center of the flower and voila!

I hope you like it!

Recipe: black and white card stock, brayer, ribbon, flower stamp from Stampabilities, glitter, clear ep, Black Soot Distress Ink, Calypso Kaleidacolor pad

No Joy... I repeat, no joy!

Ok, I think the title is *funny*! I don't know if anyone else watched Stargate SG-1, but dh and I are watching all the episodes in order - ten full seasons! Anyway, we just watched an episode where Carter says to Jack "Sir, we have no joy! I repeat, no joy.". It really cracked me up, I guess I'm supposed to believe that this is military speak for technical failure. Hmmm.... Anyway, so far we have had 'no joy' with the whole OS update on my laptop. There have been several frustrating things obstructing progress, but I have faith in dh. He will persevere!

I guess this means that I should getback to posting! How about a scrappy card? Not something I really do too often, but I did like the effect once I was finished. You can see where I stamped several times without re inking - I liked the faded look for this card especially. I don't know if you can tell from the picture but those are crystal jewels attached in the centers of the flowers (and glitter on the stems). I think the most difficult thing was trying to get the window properly squared while still looking natural.

Thanks for visiting!

Recipe: designer paper from Close to My Heart and Michael's(the inset portion), watercolor pencils, Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, Kaleidacolor Blue ink pad, Simply Stated stamp set from Fancy Pants, Club Stamp (garden quote), Sakura glitter pen, Swarovski crystals

Just a quickie

Ok, just a quick post! Dh hasn't started updating my OS yet, but I have been busy making sure that everything is ready. Soooo... just droppin in to post the first card I've made with my Katzelkraft stamps. Oooooo, I *love* those stamps! This particular bird cried out for something elegant, like a wedding or wedding shower. I might add a greeting before sending it - assuming that the occasion warrants it.

Ok, the details. The bird was stamped with 2 colors of Distress Ink on a small piece of cream cs. Then I scored the edges with my Score It - but it needed more. I pulled out the Dimensional Pearls from Ranger & painted the edges - IRL it is very close to the color of the background paper. That designer paper was my downfall. I had to put a moratorium on buying paper (NO more room!) several months ago, but this paper was calling me by name. I think it was whispering that it needed Katzelkraft to be happy. *lol* Everything else is pretty self explanatory.

Thanks for dropping by!

Recipe: green & cream cs, satin edged ribbon, designer scrapbook paper, stamp from Katzelkraft, White Opal Dimensional Pearls, Score It, Brilliance Galaxy Gold, Antique Linen & Vintage Photo DI, Hero Arts pearls.

Serendipity was the name of the game!

I have something pretty for your eyes today. Something more my 'style' - heh, like I have one!? Anyway, dh has ordered new software for my laptop and I'm expecting it in the next couple of days. I don't really know how long I'll be 'down', but maybe this will be worth checking out in the meantime? :)

This was not even close to what I had in mind when I started, but I guess I could say that about most things I make. *lol* I used a bunch of Distress Inks on Claybord (just like Stampbord) but didn't like the way it looked. NOT because of the board - that stuff takes ink like a dream! I just didn't like the way the colors were coming together. Sooo, I went over almost all of it with Mica Magic inks (love those!) and a makeup sponge until I liked it. IRL the bottom looks like a crashing wave, pure seredipity. Over that I used a background stamp that says things like Diva, Independent, Strong and Woman (among other things). I wish I knew where that stamp came from... I bought it many moons ago at one of my first stamp shows. You know, before I knew how addicted I would get to UM's (that had no info on them). I stamped the woman's face last using Archival Black ink from Ranger. I just love the look of her eyes.

Here's a close up of the grungeboard in the corner. This was my first foray into grungeboard and I wasn't sure what to do with it. This corner seemed to need something flourishy, so I broke into my package and started altering! I tapped it with green ink, then poured Opals embossing powder on it. The ink soaked in so quickly that I got a spotty look to the Opals when I heated it, but it looked intentional - so I kept it!

I edged the entire piece with black velvet ribbon and added feathers from the fly fishing section of the local sporting goods store. Hah! I can find crafty stuff *anywhere*.
Thanks for dropping by!



Recipe: Claybord panel, Mica Magic reinkers, Brilliance gold ink, grungeboard flourish, Opals EP in Eucalypt, Third Coast Rubberstamp, unknown background stamp, feathers, black velvet, red liner tape, green dye ink

How 'bout something quiet?

So, how would you like to see something 'quiet'? You know, some things just require a more restrained touch... weddings, funerals, new babies. Somehow I don't imagine that a *bright* card is always appropriate - or appreciated! :D

Here's a little something that I made for a friend when his wife was pregnant. Can you imagine, I think their baby boy is four months old now! This really was an easy card to stamp and I was able to use my Curvy Cutter (this was before I got circle Nesties!). A little glitter pen, a few 'fake' dew drops and voila!
The stamps are from Inkadinkado, a clear set that was only available at Joann's earlier this year. I know you can't really tell, but those circles were outlined with a brown glitter pen - sparkly IRL, I promise! At first I wanted to center all the circles on top of eachother but it looked too much like a bull's eye. Ack, not the right look! Now these are the 'fake' dew drops that you could find at Michaels - I haven't seen them in months, but they were in floral and they have flat backs. I do have some of the real thing. Honestly the differences are mostly size (real DD are smaller) and finish (there are rough spots on the fake ones that can be trimmed off with scissors), otherwise they feel pretty much the same. You do have to use a clear drying glue to adhere them or maybe something with glitter - Stickles anyone? :)
Thanks for dropping by!

Recipe: Light & dark aqua cardstock, brown cardstock & brown pattern sb paper, brown glitter pen, aqua ink, versamark & white embossing powder, Score It, acrylic drops, white ribbon, Glossy Accents (to glue the acrylic drops) and double sided foam tape.

Woo Hoo!

I can hardly believe it! I've been featured in the Best of the Blogosphere on Card of the Week! That just stuns me! Wow, sure does make this learning curve all worth it. :D In case you haven't seen Card of the Week, it's a great resource. Susanna combs through tons of blogs each week (436 on her reader at last count, phew!) looking for the best projects to feature. Her lists are all encompassing - cards, scrapbooking, paper projects... it's just amazing all the gorgeous things she shares every week. Like I said, I'm THRILLED! :D Just a word to the wise, her BOB list is dynamic - in other words, she keeps adding to it. You can scroll for days to see ALL of the great things she's put on that list! Bring your cup of coffee! :)


Soo, I have something a little different to share... sure hope it lives up to all the hype. *lol* This is an altered puzzle piece that I made some time ago. I absolutely love how all the colors just came together, it wasn't planned - believe me! First I coated the puzzle piece with white gesso - it was a child's puzzle, lots of bright color & hard to cover. Then I went over it with lots of different colors of Mica Magic ink. No pads, everything came straight from the reinker bottle. I mushed it around with old makeup sponge (the really dense kind). I loved how the blue & green mixed together - all the colors actually blended very well. I did the same thing with the domino piece - no gesso, but still mica magic reinker with sponges. I stamped on the domino with a portion of a stamp from Rubberstamp Ave in black. Finally I edged it with a Krylon Copper pen and covered the whole thing with Glossy Accents from Ranger. After I figured out general placement of the domino I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig and a stamp from Club Stamp on the puzzle piece. I thought it needed a little more dimension so I embossed with black over that. Once I glued the domino down and edged the entire piece with more Krylon pen, I coated the whole thing with more Glossy Accents for protection.

I loved this piece so much that I gave it as a gift to my mom. I know she loves it... hope you do too!
Recipe: Green, Blue, Purple, Bronze and 2 shades of Gold Mica Magic reinkers. Puzzle piece, gesso, black ink & embossing powder, Krylon copper pen, Glossy Accents, makeup sponge.

Waxy Cuttlebug

Hi again! Time for a new post. Today I thought I'd show you my best Waxy Cuttlebug card. I love, love, love the way the colors came together! I got this technique from the Technique Junkies newsletter, although I did alter it a little. Original instructions did not include black ink, but I just thought the silhouette stamps popped more when black. The technique is very simple, and basically the same as wax paper resist - but if you can't figure out the difference just give me a shout & I'll try to help.

Because of the size of the original waxy piece, I was able to cut it down to three equal pieces... but by the time they were all matted the little pieces were just too big to all fit on the front. Hence a pic of the inside too! It's always nice to have a little something in the interior... this is just a little more than I would usually put!

Recipe: Black cardstock base, gold cardstock for matting, white glossy paper, wax paper, cuttlebug & Diamonds in the Rough embossing folder, Waterfall Big & Juicy pad, gold Opalite ink, Brilliance gold ink, metal rimmed vellum tag, black sharpie, dimensional glue dot, gold krylon pen, gold ribbon, stamps are a clear set from Inkadinkado.

Asian Copic & Prisma trial

How bout something new and different? This is something that I recently did using Copic markers and Prismacolor pencils (plus a little OMS). It was my first try at combining the two mediums, but I was amazed at how easy this was to do. I got the idea from Marianne over at I Like Markers - she is Ah-Mazing!

I'm afraid that I'd *like* to be able to say which colors I used... but, um, yeah - no such luck! I don't really have all that many colors of either - so I probably used 90% of what I have!

Recipe: plain ole white cardstock, stamp from Inkadinkado, mat from DCWV Far East stack, various Copics & Prisma pencils, faux leaves (in the corners) are cut from handmade paper.