10/20/2007

Why I'm NOT stamping!!!

Once again, Blogger is acting up! I hope this isn't becoming a common theme. I started this post last night, but couldn't upload the pics!

Our new vehicle has arrived!! It arrived Wednesday, but we picked it up early Friday morning!! I keep calling it the car, but it really isn't. It's not a truck, not even technically an SUV. Crossover is the official term. Car works much easier though in everyday conversation!! Here is our Buick Enclave!







The color is "Cocoa Metallic". It will always be dusty because of our road, but that would happen with any color vehicle! We liked this-it's unique. I have yet to even see another of these one the road, much less one the same color! It is "All Wheel Drive" and will seat 8. So far, we are loving it!!! It's very nice to have "our" vehicles back! I've been driving hubby's truck while waiting on this one. We had a van that we were trading in, so we wanted to put the miles on it and save some on his truck. He drives 30 miles into Lincoln everyday, so they add up fast! I do enough out here just running between home and town and around, but thankfully not 60+ a day!!!

So, no stamping on Saturday! Between commitments, I spent time tinkering with it-learning what all the buttons and such do! And no stamping yet today either. Our "farmers" made it here today and have started getting our beans out. YEAHHHHH!!! It's been a very rainy fall here, so farming has been difficult! There is a little in the forecast for today,but we're hoping it doesn't happen! You don't often hear us say we don't want rain!

Hope everyone has had a great weekend! I'm getting a few chores and such done, so maybe I can stamp something tonight.

10/17/2007

Boss's Day


This is the card I made for us girls to give to the Boss yesterday. It's pretty simple really, but I was trying to be masculine without the full "western" feel of this set. I think it worked, hopefully he liked it!

10/16/2007

Sunday Challenge

I made this Sunday, but didn't have time to post til last night. Then, Blogger wasn't working right and I couldn't upload the pic! It seems to be working now though!!

This is the card I made for the Sunday Featured Stamper Challenge from SCS. The featured stamper is StamperTammy and this is the card I chose to case.


I used my True Friend set, Blue Bayou & River Rock. Overall, I like it. It didn't quite WOW me like Tammy's did though! I may have to try again when I can find a few minutes!

And good personal news---our new Enclave is HERE!!! Finally!!! It's been along wait, but worth it I hope. We have arrangements to pick it up Friday am-I hope I can wait that long!!! The dealership needs to do their "thing" to it. I'll post a pic this weekend!

10/14/2007

Sketch Challenge Sunflower

I was looking for inspiration last night, so I went to SCS and checked out the Sketch Challenge for the week. Click here to see the posted challenge. I loved the layout and knew it would work perfectly with the sunflower that I wanted to use anyway. I had the Give Thanks set out from the apple buckets I did last week and I wanted to use the sunflower on something before I put it away.

Here is what I came up with. The base is Chocolate Chip. The front edge of this card is trimmed by 1" so the inside of the card shows. I used two different pieces of the So Saffron Prints Designer Paper on the front and inside. Always Artichoke is the accent layer. I watercolored the sunflower with So Saffron, Always Artichoke & Chocolate Chip classic ink by applying with my blender pen on watercolor paper. The stem bled just a little outside the lines, so that shadow got a little darker than I intended! I used my Crop-A-Dile to set Jumbo eyelets so I could thread a piece of ribbon thru. The ribbon is from the Theater Ribbon Originals set.

10/11/2007

Watercolor Apples

Am I the only one who tries new things when you're on a deadline? I was inspired to do this card by 2 wonderful and funny stampers, Laurie Haskins & Patty Edwards, at the NEMC a few weekends back. They had a card very similar to this and I knew my upcoming swap theme was background stamps. Even though the main image is watercoloring (which I NEVER do-I prefer the quick gratification of stamping), I was inspired to use my new Sanded background and give it a whirl! They demo'd coloring with water, and picking up ink from the pad (add a drop or two of reinker to your lid). I just can't do that much water! I did try it that way, but my colors all bled together. I did better with my blender pen.
I stamped the bucket on Watercolor paper in Jet Black Stazon. First, I colored Creamy Caramel very lightly under the bucket. Then I colored the bucket with Blue Bayou. I then did use the water method and applied Summer Sun with my large watercolor brush VERY lightly all around the bucket, top and bottom just for a little contrast. I took the Wild Wasabi next and again, very lightly, went right next to the sides of the bucket and above the apples. Apples were last, first with Wild Wasabi and then Real Red. My blender pen was very saturated by the time I was done, and some of the apples did bleed a little on a couple of the cards. I'm guessing I need to not accumulate SO much ink in the blender, or let it dry more between colors. All in all, I liked it! The colors are very bright! What I like is that by using the watercolor paper, you can move the ink around with the blender pen, even lightening it up if need be. You can't do that on cardstock because it gets fuzzy! That will happen eventually with this paper, but it takes lots longer!
My last hint-if you have to make 21 of these, don't wait til Monday night to start them when you have to mail no later than Thursday! Especially when those days are filled with work, kids, dinner, etc.! Thanks for stopping by! I'm off to plan projects for Stamp Heaven tomorrow night-I will share them as soon as I can!

10/04/2007

Great Make-N-Takes!


Since I'm having trouble creating anything this week, I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite make-n-takes from last weekends NEMC. These were designed by Kevin Theesen & Susan Nickerson for us of all to create. Stamping doesn't get any easier than that! Everything precut, with a color guide and instructions! We used the In-Color colors from the current SU! catalog, and the Priceless set. Very cool!
On this one, we used the Groovy Guava cardstock base, a Chocolate Chip layer and a piece of the Groovy Guava Prints Designer Paper. We "hand stitched" the white around the Chocolate Chip layer with the White Gel pen. The white flower is a chipboard flower colored with the Craft Whisper White ink. Scallop punch in Chocolate Chip, Circle punch in Groovy Guava, cut-out flower & brad. Attach all together with a brad. Stamp So Kind in Chocolate Chip, add a piece of Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon and you're good to go! This is a 6 x 3 card. I always love the way this size of card looks, but never seem to do this much on my own!



For this one, we used a Blue Bayou card base, with Whisper White layers, and Purely Pomegranate & Soft Sky. White craft ink "swirls" behind the Thinking of You, and a background image on the Purely Pomegranate. I think the butterflies could use a shot of glitter but I haven't taken time to add it yet! Don't forget the ticket corner! One of my favorite accessories!!
That's going to have to do it for tonight! Thanks for stopping by! I hope to be creating something to share this weekend. Happy Friday everyone!!!

10/01/2007

SPECIALS!!!!

There are a couple things going on at SU! right now that YOU should know about!

First, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST is the Holiday Glitz Promotion. Stampin' Up! has put together some Card Kits to make your life a little easier at this very busy time of year! The kits contain precut card stock and Designer Series paper, festive zigzag ribbon, and Rhinestone brads to make 15 cards super easy!!! Especially since it includes full-color instruction sheet!!

There are two ways to take advantage of this fantastic kit while supplies last:

*Purchase one of holiday stamp sets (below) and get the Holiday Glitz card kit for the special price of $24.95, or

*Purchase the Holiday Glitz card kit for $28.95 with no additional purchase required.

Qualifying stamp sets include:

109234 Snowfall $23.95
106786 The Snowflake Spot $20.95
109266 Big on Christmas $18.95
110359 Love & Joy* $23.95

* Holiday Mini Collection 2007

Contact me TODAY to order your kit! I did say WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!!!

Second, is a special for World Card Making Day, this coming Saturday, October 6. Of course, I didn't have time to put anything together, but SU! is giving EVERYONE the chance to purchase the Simply Sent kits at 20% off!!! Good only from October 4 thru October 8.

We have 5 kits available in this catalog:

Happy Day

Sending Happy Thoughts

Friendship Shapes

Simple Delights

Three Thoughts

Click the links to view the details about each set. Remember that each has a DIE CUT stamp set and enough supplies PRECUT for you to make 20 cards, 10 each of 2 designs. The catalog prices are either $42.95 & $54.95. Sale prices are $34.36 & $43.96. Quick and Easy---My kind of stamping!

Contact me today to place your order, for any of these GREAT kits!