Followers

1/31/2013

Valentine


Good morning Blog Friends. After our night of wind & rain, we have a gloriously sunny morning to enjoy. The sunshine always perks up my mood. I discovered many years ago that I am one of those people who need sunshine; after several days of gray & gloom, I tend to get a bit 'blue'. On those days I have to keep very active or engaged in doing something. Guess it's from all our years in So. Florida. I have a card to share today so here goes with the specs:
- Stamp is Penny Black L.O.V.E. colored with copics on Copic Xpress cardstock
- Spellbinders Resplendant Rectangles die, S5-147, second to the largest in the set - edges distressed with DI Tattered Rose
- Sizzix Hearts embossing folders (large and a smaller one for the pink circle) The larger folder had  some Tsukineko Angel Pink gently rubbed against the heart motif before embossing
- ribbon from stash
- Glossy Accents on some of the balloon hearts
- cardbase is white GP and pink circle was from a paper snippet not yet reorganized
 
I hope you like the little card. Think this one might be for Sweetie, since he hasn't seen it yet. Usually he sees the image as I'm coloring it, as he sometimes will critique it for me. (of course he knows the right thing to say, but sometimes he'll be honest!!!) Ya'll have a wonderful Thursday, and I hope my followers were a bit intrigued by the little glimpse of some coming goodies in the WOYWW post yesterday. Many hugs. Thanks for stopping in to visit today.
 

1/30/2013

WOYWW

As promised, back I am to participate in WOYWW and share some pictures of my work area. WARNING: Very messy! Enter at your own risk. Owner/Proprietor assumes no responsibility for shocks! LOL. I know from seeing some other work areas, that there are a lot of neat/organized people out there in blogland. I'm not one of 'em! LOL again. Here goes:

Experiment in progress- note brayer
 

 
Where I sit to color
Next is a brayer experiment I've worked on...not happy with the way the brayer part looked.


I had some packaging acetate that I was trying some alcohol inks on. This is turning out better than the brayer effort.
I've been moving embossing folders out of their original package. These were stored in some of the bins pictured here, and with the packing, took up too much room, plus I had to search through several boxes looking for one. I decided to use a white piece of c/s cut to the folder size, write pertinent data on the c/s, emboss the c/s & keep the sample in the folder. Also trying to put these folders in the narrow bins by category. I have a lot of the blue C/bug binders (pictured here), again, folders in no particular order. I'm going through those binders - separating out folders by theme, and many will go in the narrow bins. The border E/Fs are hard to store, as they fall off the sample. I decided I would keep those border E/F's in the blue binders, so this one which I have labeled, has all the border E/F's that I've searched out to date. You can see a sample of the inside of the blue binder, plus the bins, with a labeled white c/s. I hope this makes sense!






After I posted the card I did with the paper napkin technique, I received a note from this lovely lady, Miss Mary M. Mary asked for my address and sent me some of the loveliest paper napkins. There are far too many for me to ever use up, so I'm going to include some of these sweet tidbits in the blog candy that is coming soon. (you can see a glimpse of some other goodies too!) I have some napkins that I'm going to send out Miss Mary's way, and I'll also include some of those with the candy bundle. Hope this appeals to some of you! Anyway, that is my share for WOYWW. I almost didn't make it. Our area is getting some high winds this afternoon, and now in the early evening, we are getting rain squalls. I just saw that there have been some tornadoes to the south of our area, down in Atlanta, Ga. So if you are in the path of these storms, I hope & pray you & yours will be safely sheltered. Again, thanks for joining me...and I wonder if anyone knows how to arrange the images so they fit on the page properly. I used small, tried to do right, center & left options. The dang pictures won't stay where I want'em, and forget trying to do a caption. That messes it up even further- so I gave up THAT idea! LOL.

Christmas


Hello and it's time for another Rudolph Day Challenge for 2013.  I must confess I had not thought about this fun challenge as the month of January was drawing to a close, but was reminded when I saw some entries at other blogs. This cute Penny Black image had been colored but not used, so all it needed was to be put on a card front. I have been intrigued lately with recycling some of the pretty cards we received this past Christmas. We had one that had some pretty packages on the front, so I cut them off and popped them up on this one. The Penny Black image is called Santa & Friend and I saw it at Stamping for Pleasure (but at the moment I can't find the particular post- if I recall a-right, it was being gifted as a prize). I thought it was so adorable, and I searched on the internet & found it - at Simon Says Stamps.
 
- Colored the image with copics, on Copic Xpress paper
- diecut with S/Binders Labels 15.
- cardbase is a light kraft color
-  border from the Tim Holtz Christmas set was embossed on the bottom.
- Tsukineko Delicata with a sponge dauber for the gold accents on the embossed border
- added handcut recycled gifts 
 
I'm going to enter this in January's Rudolph Day Challenge...come along and see some wonderful cards. I'll be back in a bit with an entry for WOYWW. My pictures I took last night were a bit blurry, so I'll see if I can get a couple that are a little sharper. See you in a few minutes, and as always, thanks for stopping to visit. Hugs.
Edit: I think this one might qualify for the Outlawz Friday Copic/Promarker Challenge if I can do this linking thing properly.

1/28/2013

Birthday

Hello, and it's good to see that Mr. Blogger will allow browsing to a computer file to insert images again. I was having to switch back & forth between Compose (which is the default when the page opens to create a new post) and HTML for adding an image. With Google, I had to hunt around for adding a link within the blog. That was becoming frustrating.  Hope this stays fixed. Just wanted to say that DH seems to be feeling better from the 'virus problems' he developed on Thursday, but he's still feeling weakish. Thanks for the good wishes for his improvement.

Here's a Penny Black image (Hello Dear in Slapstick cling rubber), that I think is so adorable. I colored the image with copics and diecut with S/Binder Label 22, largest die in the set. Handtraced the outside of the die to get the green mat(a snippet). The blue trim is another snippet retrieved from collecting up a pile of  'stuff' that had accumulated on my diecut table. This was punched with a very old MS punch (it's one of the turquoise colors, so that's a clue as to its age). It was one of my very first punches, and still cuts well. Some of the newer, more expensive ones don't always! This was a punch purchased when Walmart still had a fairly good selection in the crafts section, and I believe I paid about $5 for it...non-sale. I got 2 of them, one is a lacey scallop, still a favorite punch. Ahem, I digress. The cardbase is a sort of terracotta color with some flecks in the paper. I was trying to complement the color of Mousie's pot ladder. Embossed this was Sizzix Raspberry Frame. Yellow grosgrain ribbon from a spool in the stash. (Sometimes in cleaning & organizing, you can find some good stuff! :-) ). No sentiment on the front as yet, but I'll label Birthday. Could be used for other occasions too.  Have a grand afternoon, thanks for the visit & come back again when you have time.
Edit: I see there is still lots of fun going on over in the Playground, which I thought might be closed due to weather. I'll pop over & see if anybody is available at the slides or swings. Won't you join me?

1/27/2013

Recycled Cards

Good Afternoon and a Warm Welcome to my newest follower. I have been MIA for a couple of days, as DH has managed to contract this latest nasty virus that has been going around. We made an emergency visit to the doctor on Friday morning. Thankfully the office was able to work him in. When I came home Thursday after my stamp group, he was feeling badly, and it had come on suddenly after he'd lunched with a neighbor. At first he thought it was something he ate, but by the time I got home, he realized it was not 'something he had eaten'. Had a real bad night with vomiting, bathroom problems, etc. Friday he was just as bad, so called the doctors. This was our bad weather day, with ice expected, and I DON'T DO ICE! I knew he was not safe to try to drive, so off we go. I kept to main roads, and we don't live very far from the office, so all was well with the trip. He got a shot of 'something' & some very expensive pills plus Immodium. The shot evidently had something to put him to sleep, because he slept pretty much the remainder of that day, the night. He said he roused up a couple of times to heave & visit the bathroom, but nothing as bad as the night before. He's feeling much better this morning, but now has a real bad headache. All the above to convey that if you think you have this stuff, don't delay seeing your physician. The patient dehydrates quickly and your blood pressure can drop rapidly. So be extra vigilant about handwashing when you've been out & about (we are, he still got it, and I'm hoping I don't catch it). I've been trying to be very careful with wiping down anything he's touched, slept in a guest room, stayed away other than asking if I can do/get him anything.

OK, here's the specs on the card. This is part of a beautiful Christmas card we received, a part of which I already used here. I realized after I had diecut for the first card, that part of the scene would have been a perfect view out this Memory Box Grand Madison Window die. But it was already done, so I thought the beautiful silvery birches would make a nice scene outside the window. The little holly pieces were handcut from the card as well. The window frame was cut from Coordinations White Wash paper, sanded just a bit to reveal the brown core. and a W005 copic added some gray shading on the diecut. The blue cardbase was embossed with a Darice snowflake folder,  dry brushed with some Colorbox pigment white for highlights.

I've been going through my embossing folders, using white cardstock to make a folder size sample, first writing the company name, folder name, then embossing. I'm grouping the folders categories such as Holiday (which will be further separated as to Christmas - which I have the most - then Autumn, Halloween, etc). So far, after eliminating all the packing materials I had just left the folder in, I've been able to compress 3 boxes into 2 boxes. I still have a bunch in the blue zipper storage folders that Provo Craft first sold, which are now hard to find, and expensive if you do find them. These had plastic sleeves that fit specific size EF's. I want to go through those folders and continue to get 'theme specific' folders out, make a sample and keep like folders together. I spend way too much time hunting for a folder with the way I have them arranged.

So I hope your Sunday will be wonderful. If the weather is nasty where you are, be safe & stay warm & dry. As always, thanks for the visit, and I'll try to play catchup on my blog surfing! Hugs & Blessings.

1/24/2013

Birthday

Good morning on a lovely sunny Thursday. I'm off to my stamp group in a few minutes, but thought I'd do a quick share of a card I finished last night. Not sure which occasion it will be used for, but I'm tagging it under Birthday. Always nice to have a card ready before I need it, and just have to add an appropriate sentiment & an insert. (unlike my usual last minute scurry!). The focal image is another of the Sweet Stamp lady stamps, entitled Margery. I had colored this image back in the summer (ala recliner time). I love the feel of her old fashioned middy-dress...she reminded me of someone going to an afternoon function during the '20's. So ladylike with the hat & parasol. It's not a large stamp, so colored quickly, and I was trying for a light-airy look to her gown. Used copic soft greens and pinks from the RV family of copics. I know other copic users like to know colors used, but I don't write down - usually - which colors I choose. I look at the stamp, decide on a 'feel' that I want to achieve, and just start scribbling the colors on a similar cardstock to what I stamped on. When I get a few colors that please me, I begin coloring the stamp.  I may use the image much later after I color it. I realize it's helpful to know how a stamper colored an image, but that's just how I color. If you have questions, I can usually remember which families I worked in on a particular card image. I airbrushed the background after masking the colored image, and used one of the RV colors to airbrush. The image was diecut with a Spellbinder Oval (and then last evening I was trying to match the appropriate scalloped oval die for the mat). The cardbase is cream, and the design papers were 2 pieces cut from a multipattern paper..which I just used separate sections of it. The front edge of the card was diecut with an Impression Obsession scallop die (no name, just a number). I used the same mat paper to trim the inside of the card, using an MS punch. I had intended the MS trim to go on the outside, and messed up one side of it. So lopped off that side, repurposed it as inside trim, hence the scallop diecut on the outside, as I wanted to keep the lacy look. Worked out well, because I think in hindsight the purple-y trim would have been too much on the outside. Also this I.O. die was too long to run sideways through the Big Shot with the card opened up so I could do the trim (and not have to fold the card & make a crease in it from the die). Pulled out the Grand Calibur which has a wider feed for the cutting plates and it worked fine. Oh yes, I forgot to say, I added a piece of cream lace where the 2 front papers join, popped the image up. I took the photograph on our kitchen table where the sun is streaming in, so you can see some shadows here. Tomorrow we're supposed to get rain again. So have a lovely day, and whatever you may be doing, enjoy it. Come again soon. Hugs

1/23/2013

Anniversary

Hi once again. I meant to post this card earlier today, but DH suggested we take a drive up to one of my stamp stores (Scrapbook Creations in Spartanburg, SC). Now I had plenty other things I had planned to do this afternoon (more work in my stamp area & a nice nap were high on my priority list). It was a beautifully sunny day, and I never turn down a chance to visit a stamp store. I need more stamps...more paper..Oh YES I DO! So we had a nice lunch, I picked up some more Memory Box dies, as the store had gotten in some new ones. Got an Inky Antics clear set for 60% off original price. Then came home, changed clothes, and off to the recliner I went. I did get the nice nap in, but alas, no work in the stamp mess er...ah..room. This card was shown on my WOYWW share this morning, as it was on my desk last night. I think this one will be for an anniversary card, not sure just yet. The background was created from a pretty napkin I found once I heard about this technique (here's a link showing how and there's plenty of info on Youtube). This is an old technique, but it was new to me. I can't claim I've been 100% successful with it, but this particular one turned out ok. Then I had to decide how to use it.




Once I had the napkin on the cardstock, I trimmed to a size that I wanted, glued the piece down to my cardbase. Used an MS border punch for the white trim. Since the cardbase is white, I taped a dark reddish pink strip to the bottom of the card, which peeks through the lacy punch. (a snippet). Since I have been sorting through ribbons/laces recently, I remembered this pretty lace, and thought it would look nice atop the punched piece. Decided to use a Memory Box Pearl Lace die to trim the front edges (since there were several layers I needed something to cut well, and those hand punches just don't do that). I taped another snippet light green down on the inside that can be seen just under the diecut border. Added the green ribbon to hide the joins, and used Glossy Accents to stick a bow on. The sentiment will go inside once I decide what occasion the card will serve. Hope you like this one, and if the technique interests you, check out the Youtube link. There are quite a few videos on this technique, but this was one I found so that I could add the link. Hmm...actually the napkin part of this card is also a snippet as it has been floating around my scrap heap (uh...make that snippets folder) for some time while I decided how to use it! Let's check out those Playground girls and see if they are having a snow fight. I heard something about shoveling, so I think I'll just sneak in....Have a lovely evening, and thanks for checking in tonight. Hugs

WOYWW

Howdy and welcome to my share for WOYWW, As you may be able to see, haven't changed the desk much since last week (or the week before either). I have been working on some organizing of Spellbinders - making some progress that only I can see! We did get the old sewing machine with its wooden topper moved and a larger folding table in that space. So the Genesis cutter is back in its place, along with my Scor-Buddy and I was able to add the Vagabond that Sizzix sent to replace the wonky electric Big Shot Express. I did get that tool removed from its packing box--finally.
As you can see, on the desk there is a card - which I shall post later, some MS punched valentines, an EK Success punch being used for a project, some MS punches, a spool of Christmas ribbon, and a S/Binder diecut of a recycled Christmas card (the angels, of course!). In addition to Cardinals, I'm also a lover of all things angel. I am loving this idea of recycling Christmas cards, so started this one last evening. It's rather large so I'm trying to think of something that won't be an 'odd sized' card. We spent far too much in postage this last December, because of odd sized envelopes or too much layering (even though I do cut out the underneath of the S/Binder where one doesn't see.) I'm trying to keep that in mind as I do any cards this year, except for ones that I shall hand deliver. The ribbon is from the Dollar store, and I thought it was pretty, and might be utilized as part of a card background. As mentioned in a previous post, we moved an old sewing machine with a wooden topper that served as a cutting station. The larger folding table is now in place, and I was able to add the Vagabond that Sizzix sent to replace the wonky electric Big Shot Express. I think I'm going to like this different arrangement. I have one of the Art Bin storage containers on the table, and to answer a blogger question as to how many S/Binders this case will hold: this particular one has 2 sets of dies per page, of all my S/B label dies. I think I have 28 labels, so that would be 14 sheets. I can add more sheets I think, but it will be heavy. My plan is to put 'categories' in different bins...I think my next bin will have motifs & accents, or something of the sort. That way I can label the container, know what is in it, and not spend so much time hunting for a specific die.


 
So thanks for joining me this morning, so now have a look 'round at some of the other desks around the crafting world. You'll get some marvelous ideas while having a fun journey. Come again soon. Hugs.

1/22/2013

Recycled Cards


Good Morning Lovely Reader, and here's to a wonderful day!! I'm seeing a lot of cards made recently using the lovely Christmas cards this past holiday and I have loved that idea. We received so many beautiful ones over the years and I've saved them all, with the idea of someday doing 'something' with them. They were just too pretty to toss. I've seen some great cards made here  and here (and these are just 2 blogs that I've seen this project...there are plenty more). So last evening I found a S/Binder die, selected a pretty card, and off I went. Cutting the scene was the easiest part... This was a rather large card and I've saved a part of it to try a window frame effect with the Memory Box window die. That's another project, so we'll see how it goes. In the meantime...here's the card specs on THIS one:
 
- Spellbinder Label 5
 
- Memory Box Frostyville Border
 
- Memory Box Snowflake Corner
 
- Paper Studio Snowflake embossing folder
 
- Smooth Bazzill navy blue paper
 
Hope you like this one, and check out some other recycling blogs. I started a new Label category for this one, called Recycled Cards. I plan to use some more of the nice cards we have received over the years. Thanks Di and Sharon, (above links) and so many others who gave me this neat idea. As always, thanks for visiting this morning, and have a Blessed day. Hugs
 
 

1/21/2013

Miscellaneous

Hi again. Thought I'd pop back to show you some of what I've been up to with the stamp area cleanup I've been trying to accomplish. Sorry this pic is a bit blurry, but hopefully you'll get the idea. This is an Art Bin storage case, that has several magnetic sheets stored inside. And of course you can buy extra sets! I've had my Spellbinders stored in cd/dvd cases for a while. I bought a product that is a magnet type of paper, has adhesive on the backside. I was cutting this to size of either cd or dvd case, then adhering the dies from each set into the case. Worked great until I got so many dies. Then it gets quite bulky to store. I had a Hobby Lobby decorator kind of suitcase that I filed the cases in, setting on the floor (clutter!). Used a label maker to put names on the case spines, and at first had the dies grouped in order by the S/B number system. Of course as I'd use the dies, be in a hurry to finish up, they got out of sorts...so I spent a lot of time hunting. Needed a better way. Some buddies (ah, those lovely enablers!) had purchased these Art Bin cases & were liking them. Had some coupons, so I bought one with some extra magnet sheets. I decided I'd put the Label dies together, then perhaps the Shapes, etc. So the last few evenings, I'd work on the card I just posted earlier today, decide I'd better stop with that effort, go start finding all my label dies. Took them out of the cd/dvd cases, adhered them to the bin's magnetic sheet, used my label maker to put the info I thought needed to be with the die. Hopefully I can keep the dies in their number sequence, have the bin marked as Labels, and not spend so much time hunting for a die. I use the word "Hopefully" with great caution here! Here's what the interior sheets look like.
Have a great day, and thanks for checking back in for a 2nd visit! Hugs & Blessings.

Edit: To answer a question regarding the Art Bins: I got mine at A C Moore, but I've seen them in Hobby Lobby (and maybe Michael's, not sure on that store). I use coupons and in ACM, sometimes they are located in the art section rather than the scrapbook/paper section. The sheets are also not always right there with the storage bins...so if you're interested, check both store sections. What I did last night emptied a whole bunch of cd/dvd cases. Tonight I hope to work on this project again. Making the labels to put under the dies, takes more time than sticking them down. The magnet is pretty strong, and they are holding much better for me, than they did on the magnet sheet I had trimmed to size and stuck in the cd case. Sometimes a couple of dies would 'fall off' that... Hope this answers some of the questions. If not, ask again, & I'll try to clear up anything I forgot to say! I think with the coupons I had, each case was about $9. or so. And the filler sheets are less of course. These cases could stand in a bookcase or on a shelf.

Birthday

Happy sunny Monday afternoon. I'm so glad to have Mr. Sun back once more. We've had 4 days of sunshine now, with a bit warmer temps these last 2 days. This card is made with a Northwoods stamp purchased from eBay some time back, and was much more difficult to color than I'd anticipated. I was trying to get some really good shading on the green landscape to show depth. I'd color, then go back, add more greens, tried different green families (from the Yellow Green family with which I started, a bit of the earthtone E's, then even going into the Green family). I finally decided I'd better quit before I totally hosed up the image. After finishing with the copics, I used a white colored pencil and a fine tip white Sharpie pen on the water, and around the areas I wanted to have snow. I used some Glossy Accents on the water to get a bit of glisten. Let that dry overnight. Then came back and touched the snow areas with a Liquid Applique pen (new to me, although I've had some applique pens for a while, never used them). While this was still wet, I sprinkled some MStewart coarse white glitter over it. Let that dry well too. I'm not going to put a sentiment on the front. Hunted up a snippet of Paper Studio textured silver paper, & used a S/Binder Mat Basics die to cut a frame. Glued frame to image using Aleene's Easy Flow glue. Had a just-right size of dark green textured Bazzil for the cardbase (?snippet!), scored & folded - then diecut the front with the next size larger S/Binder Mat Basics die. There's an A & B size set, and I'm not sure which one I used..just found a size that would work to do what I had envisioned. Hope you like this one. Have a lovely afternoon, and as always, thanks for stopping by to visit. I do so appreciate your looking in, and also if you feel like leaving me a comment or suggestion. Hugs. I'm off to the Playground to check on any activity that might be happenin'. Come along & join me if you will.

1/20/2013

Miscellaneous

Good evening, and I hope all my lovely followers (and anyone else reading this blog---LOL) had a great & restful weekend. I have been working/cleaning/rearranging -  in my stamp area & still haven't finished the card I'm working on. May have it ready to post later this evening....Working my tush off (ha, ha, ha) and you still can't see a difference in my room. (I can though!)

A friend just sent a link to a new cutter that is similar to the Genesis cutter I have mentioned that I love. It's MUCH less expensive than the Genesis, but for those who have expressed interest in the Genesis, you may want to check this link. And it's on sale for a week.*
Oh My Crafts

*I see the sale ends on Jan 21, but I just got the email with the link, so I'm doing my enabling bit for anyone who might be interested. :-) I decided to post this info, even though I'm behind with a card to share. If you miss the sale, OMC probably will have it again.

I've purchased items from Oh My Crafts before...I have to say...sometimes I've been happy with the service, sometimes I've had to send some scolding emails. There is a video you can view, and in the video, this cutter appears to do all that my Genesis does. It also operates off batteries - my cutter needs an electrical outlet - and it has a little drawer - my cutter does not. I don't think I'm going to be purchasing this tool, as I've been very happy with the one I have. The friend who sent me the link probably will, even though she has a small Genesis and a large one. She spends the winter in an RV in Florida, so she frequently has duplicate tools, so as to not have to transport a lot of stuff on her trip. She likes items she can store in the RV, not worry about having to pack, forget something, then doesn't have what she needs for a couple of months. Just thought I'd share this with you...maybe it will be of interest to someone. I did go view the video; it seems to be a pretty good quality product. If anybody takes advantage of the sale, I'd surely be interested in what you think of it! Hugs & have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping for a visit.

1/17/2013

Miscellaneous

Good evening, and we're having quite a rain session...4th day running. But we didn't get any ice, thank goodness - it didn't get cold enough. The rivers are running in full spate though, and there's a bit of flooding of some areas. Where our place is we are pretty high, so don't usually worry about that for ourselves, just the community. Don't have a card to share tonight, so I'll ramble on for a bit. (I'm good at that, in case you hadn't noticed! :-)

I had a question about the Genesis cutter I showed on WOYWW, so I'll try to have a go with that as my subject tonight. Firstly, the Genesis is fairly expensive - at least I thought so. I got the model with the light, and there's an extra attachment 'bar' type of thing, which is handy if you are 'power cutting'. (a term from my friends who do a lot of assembly line cards). I don't do that. I'd be bored. I thought long & hard about shelling out for the cutter, but I've bought Fiskars, Olfas, Tonic and you can just about name each one on the craft store market. All worked fine at first, then the blade would get dull, need replacing - which they don't cost that much. But I still didn't always get a good clean or even straight cut. Now, honestly, a lot was operator error. Several of my stamp friends - who have been at this hobby for long years - have this cutter and waxed glowingly when talking about "my Genesis". I sort of 'humphed' to myself, and thought "I'm not paying that kind of money to just cut paper! This is a hobby, not a business".

1/16/2013

Anniversary

Hello once again, and on my last post, I missed saying Welcome to another lovely follower. Guess I was too engrossed in trying to figure out how to add & where to place all the pictures I submitted for WOYWW day. There is a lovely Blog Buddy named Darnell K. who is celebrating a wedding Anniversary today. The Playground crew decided it would be lovely if we all made a card to celebrate this Big Event with Darnell & Mr. (and if you have time to pay a visit to Darnell's blog she not only has gorgeous cards, words of wisdom AND humor, but some sweet pictures of the 2 of them - 'back then'...trust me, you'll enjoy the visit!). So Darnell this one's for you & Mr. Have a LOVELY, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Many hugs
Gosh I had this picture embedded and realized I had not cropped or added the "created by" logon as I usually do so had to save the post as a draft, zip over to Ippicy and do the editing, zip back, hoping that I still had my post. Placing my pictures where I want them spaced in the post is not always working just as I want it to either. I'm making them smaller and sometimes I'm finding, you can double click and enlarge - sometimes not. In Google Chrome, I've learned that you only click once, and (hopefully) the pic will enlarge. So I'm on another learning curve! I wanted to be sure to get this posted to say the HAPPYS to Darnell & Mr, though. So again, have a grand day to all my lovely followers, a Warm Welcome to the newest follower and see ya next time. Ya'll come back, now heah? Hugs
Edit: There is a neat video here by Mr. Memory Box Dave B., showing how to do this die with glitters. I didn't do the card 'exactly' as Dave did, but I got the idea from him. Thought I'd best return and give credit where credit is due...<smile>. I used 3 Ritz Glitter colors on the heart, sookwang on a cardbase to cut the MB die, an Mbossibility folder on the white part, C/B emboss on the bottom Glitter Sheetz. Had the sentiment as a rectangle, thought it'd look better with rounded corners, then afterwards, realized I'd lost part of the Y. Too late in the wee hours & only noticed the boo-boo after it was stuck down. So I was too! <g>

WOYWW

Good morning & we still have the dreary gray rain, the 3rd day in a row. Yes, I know some of my Brit followers have dealt with such, so I will try not to whine! (and we do need the rain. It's just I'm a Florida gal for over 42 years, and I am also a person who needs sunshine ..something to do with the light or other?) So today I'm going to buzz off to Julia's Stamping Ground WOYWW and see if I can share some messy pictures. My desk didn't change its appearance since last week, so I took photos of some other messy spots in the basement stamping area where I work. Here goes
#1
Sorry if this is blurry....but you'll get the idea. #1 - This is my Cutting Area, with the Genesis Cutter I love. It's on an old sewing machine*, with a big wooden board over it to make the tabletop. Next to the Genesis is my Scor-buddy. It's handy to have it there so I can trim for a card, score it and boom, ready for the card front. As you can see, I have junk snippets piled up on the cutter, and when I need to use the cutter, I have move all the junk snippets! To the left is a floor Ott light which is a necessity because there is no natural lighting in my basement stamp area. Please don't notice the piles of junk supplies & storage on the floor. <g>

#2 is the medallion Dlite die (used for a previous card post) which should have had the wax paper that I didn't use!
#2
#3 - My lovely genesis cutter...all cleaned off for the picture so you can see what it looks like. There is a light on the right side, which is great for seeing exactly where the cut is being made. There is also an alignment bar (not attached) which is wonderful if you are making multiple cuts of the same size ..
#3
#4
#4 -#5- The Genesis with the best glue I've used to date...and the way they should be stored(#6)..on the side. This is Alene's Easy Flow glue...I pour an smount from the large bottle into the smaller needle tip bottle. It comes out in a pin-point line, you don't need a lot to be effective, and if I remember to always lay the container on its side, I've never had it clog up.
#5
#6
#6 - My manual Big Shot where I do most of the diecutting. Don't like the manual nearly as well as the electric Big Shot Express. Have to get the replacement Vagabond out & find a place for it, begin to learn to use it better.
 
I have another picture of my 'coloring area' (ha ha ha) which is on the sofa in front of the tv with some good Ott lighting to supplement the room lighting. Decided this post had enough pictures so I'll share that another time. Hope you enjoyed seeing the messy area. One of these days it's really gonna get straightened up. Actually today, DH is putting together another floor lamp for me, one I snagged at AC Moore just before Christmas. It was priced at $199, on sale for 50% off. I had just received 7  ACM gift certificates for $10 each in the mail. I was able to convince the cashier to let me use them on the light..*And then we're going to try to get another card-type folding table from underneath the basement bed, move out the sewing machine that holds the cutting tools, replace it with the folding table. Then I will have the area underneath the table to store some plastic boxes. Will let you know how it goes. We're not sure til we physically try this arrangement, if it's gonna work!*  Now I'll have another post a bit later, which is part of a surprise going on over at the Playground, so catch you a bit later. As always, thanks for joining me here, and have a wonderful day. Hugs.
Edit: the tip on storing the Easy Flow glue AND putting what I'll use in the needle tip bottle, came from Linda Bradbury. She is non-local to my area, but teaches at Scrapbook Creations several times a year and highly recommended this product. Bought it on her recommendation...loved it ever since.

1/15/2013

Thank You



Hello & welcome to another new follower! How exciting...looking more encouraging for my 100 followers goal (aren't I the optimistic one? LOL). I started hunting up some goodies last night too. (well, my Blogaversary is not that far off so I want to be ready for whichever milestone arrives first you know!) We have another rainy, gray day, and our weather guys have said it should turn a bit colder in the next few days. It's time in the season for that, so can't complain. Hope your day is going well thus far.

Here's a card made with one of the new Spellbinder Shapeabilities DLite Dies, Medallion 5 (S2-020). I used a snippet of blue lightweight textured Bazzill and this die did NOT cut easily for me. I ran it back and forth several times in the Big Shot, then added a lightweight cardboard shim. Anyhoo, eventually got it to cut, and it didn't release easily either as I forgot to use some wax paper with it. Operator Error on that one. I finally did get all the bits & pieces poked out. I like the look, but have to say that I found the die frustrating to use. Memory Box has spoiled me terribly. Next  applied a 1/4" strip of Sookwang (sticky tape) underneath the die cut & dusted with Ritz Glitter in Peacock Blue - rubbed that with my finger until it got the velvety glitter look I wanted. The piece still looked a little bare, & since I had the Cricut C/Bug organic flourish EF pieces handy on the desk, embossed to get a little bottom embellishment. Ah, then had to hunt for a backing piece on the medallion that will work with this shade of blue. Found a snippet of some Heidi Grace flocked snowflake paper, cut it to size, stuck it down. Then hunted for paper that worked well with the blue of the medallion as a mat. Nothing I tried seemed right, so back to the snowflake paper as it looked best. That particular snippet is just about all used up! I used Memento Nautical Blue to stamp a sentiment from Hero Arts (CL510) Sweet Threads, then diecut that with S/B Resplendant Rectangles, the smallest die. The trim on the medallion is a Recollection Pearl and tiny blue rhinestones. This is a Thank you for a sweet neighbor who collected our mail for us, while we were away at Christmas. I hope you like it too, and thanks for joining me this afternoon. I'm off for a followup eye check, as soon as I dash over to the Playground with a towel to dry off some swings. I have heard there is some kind of surprise being planned & I don't want to miss out. Hugs.

1/14/2013

Thinking of you

Good morning & once again, a BIG WARM WELCOME to a new follower. Thanks so much for joining me here in blogland, and I hope you will enjoy the things I post. Some time ago, I posted a link to http://gingershouse.blogspot.ca/2012/02/cards-for-sebastian.html about a little fella who is undergoing some surgery. Since I don't have any 'kid friendly' stamps like dinosaurs, toys, etc, I hunted for this little fishing guy. This is a Penny Black slapstick stamp that was very easy to color with copics. The butterflies (snippet paper) are from an MS heart punch that has 2 tiny, 1 small butterfly. Put some Glossy Accents on the butterflies for a bit of glisten.  Image was diecut with a Sizzix die, which cuts exactly what you see. I like these dies, but you can't emboss with them (at least I don't know how to emboss with 'em, as I do with the Spellbinders). I always use either Copic Xpress or Neenah paper for the stamped image if I'm going to color with copics. The green mat was done by tracing around the outside of the cutting die, slightly enlarging it, as the next size up was too big. It was a very green piece of snippet that I found when stacking up a pile of scraps to put in a plastic flat bin (oh happy day...at least one pile put up...you know I'll never find anything in it again though!). It was just too green so I took Vintage Photo Distress Ink, and sponged 'round the edges. Liked the look much better. The butterscotch cardbase was a snippet from the same pile, just the right size for a small card for a small boy! I hope Sebastian will like this one. I'm going to get this in an envelope for Ginger who is collecting cards for Sebastian, and I hope - if you have some spare time - you might join in cheering up a little fella. Also, please let's keep our good friend Bernie in our thoughts & prayers as we start this week. Thanks for your help folks. Now I'm off to see what those foxy girls at the Playground are up to....Won't you come along? I promise there will be lovely fun and lots of gorgeous projects to enjoy. As always, thanks for stopping to visit, and have a Great Monday. Hugs.

1/11/2013

Tools


#1
Hello again, and here's the post on the stamp positioner I used in making the sponged snowfall cards, using the versamark & overstamping. This is a stamp-a-majig with the plastic template that comes when you buy the tool. (Except I've misplaced mine, so I cut a piece of plastic from the Spellbinders packaging, cut to an accurate square using my Genesis cutter and it works just fine). To start, position the T-square of the tool against the square corner of the template. Ink your stamp and stamp on the template, having the stamp squared in the corner tool as shown in picture 2. If using clear, you'll be able to position the acrylic block the same way.
#2

Next take your template to the project where you wish to stamp, position the template, butt the tool up square against the template on your project. Ink your stamp, gently move the template - without disturbing the positioner, and put your stamp in the corner, just as in the picture 3 here, stamping down firmly.

If you don't get a good impression, as long as you've left the positioner in place, you can reink, restamp & this is very helpful. Practice makes perfect and I don't practice with this tool enough. It is essential, though, when trying to do the overstamping...and sometimes I STILL don't get it just right, as I move the positioner down just a smidge too far from where I wanted it to be when I do the 'real' image stamping.
#3
#4


#5
Other companies make this tool...I think Stampin Up has one. There is a clear acrylic one, that is sort of small T-square.  I hope this is helpful. Sorry some of the pictures are not real sharp, but I was working at night, under my desk fluorescent light. But maybe you will get the idea anyway. I thought if some of the readers had a question about what tool I was using & how, maybe somebody else might as well.  BTW I used Google Chrome to do this post, and can add pictures from my hard drive as I was doing before - when I was using Internet Explorer. I didn't have to switch back and forth between the COMPOSE and HTML options to be able to browse to the pictures on my hard drive. I don't store on Picassa, because when I first started to blog, I had read somewhere that you are limited to allowed space. Being rather ignorant on a lot of this 'techo stuff', I'm trying to be careful and not trip myself up. I may try Firefox next to do a post. I think I've learned where the bookmarks or favorites are, so if I want to link, then hopefully I'll be able to do it without grinding my teeth or hollering for HELP! Hugs & have a great weekend, and thanks for the afternoon visit.

Birthday

Good afternoon and welcome to 2 new followers. Thanks for joining me on a gloomy rainy & gray Friday afternoon. I had just posted this card (Blogger...grrr ) and was doing another post, and somehow deleted both of them. Operator Error. Can't blame blogger for all of it. This is a card with a Prickley Pear Francine image (GG04010), and the design paper is Graphic 45 Fashionista. I am so not happy with this card. The image should have been easy to color, but it was not. I had to use black (or a light brown) to stamp because of the face. Stamping in a color would have looked odd because of face I think. After doing the face and body, I colored the dress in shades of Cool Gray, then the trim in pinkish shades of Red (copics of course). It was pretty flat looking, so I added some clear Spica for a bit of sparkle, then some Sakura Clear Star. Finally decided to use a bit of pink smooch (the one that looks like fingernail polish) on the trim. Diecut with a S/B deckled rectangle & distressed around the edges with Memento London Fog. My friend has been a clothing buyer in her early career, and is one of these ladies who always looks so perfectly polished, no matter what she wears. She's very dear to me, so I can't just hate her for her cool turnout, which sadly, I can not emulate at all!!! LOL. So I really wanted to use the stamp and design paper for her card. Used the reverse side of the Fashionista & an MS deco looking punch to cut the border behind the image. Still didn't like what I was creating, so decided to use a square scrap of the trim side & the same MS corner punch to make corner trim on the image. The sentiment is a S/B grommet die, edged with London Fog, and the pearls were colored in shades of Red copics to match the smooch color. I'm thinking I may take this apart, and put a hot pink just-plain scant rectangle piece behind the image. Or it may just end in the trash...some you win, some you lose. Anyway, have a blessed Friday, and I'll try to get back later with another post showing the stamp positioner that I had some questions about yesterday. Hugs, and thanks for visiting.
Edit: I didn't like the look of the card as posted first. Found some 'pink-ish' design paper in the scrap pile, cut a rectangle to fit the focal image. I was able to un-adhere (is that a word?) the image without doing too much damage to the face of the card. Plopped the new rectangle mat behind the focal image, stuck it back down, and like it much better. I was glad to not have to totally scrapthe first effort. What do you think?

1/10/2013

Thinking of You



,
Good evening & welcome to a new follower. I hope you will enjoy the cards & ramblin' on that happens on this blog. Here's another effort at trying to develop the snow sponging technique done by Miss Heather, whose work I find so very inspirational. Her tutorials are extremely well done, make it look so easy, UNTIL...I try to do it! I keep trying though, and one of these days....! After I had sponged with Memento Summer Sky & just a smidge of London Fog (to create the hollows), I inked Penny Black Nature's Dance with Versamark: used a stamp positioner, stamped the branch. Reinked with Tuxedo Black, stamped off once, then inked just a bit below my initial Versamark stamp. It looked just a bit 'too off' for me at first, but after I left it, re-looked the next day, I decided it was 'passable' so made into this card. The stamp has a little bird perched on the twigs (which is cut off in the leftmost branches) and he didn't stamp out as well as I wanted. I tried to use a thin copic black multiliner, draw him in better, then color with red copics. Looked 'ok', but I wasn't thrilled with it. Remembered I had some of these Making Memories Mistletoe glittered birds I had bought on sale, hunted them up. (?snippet?!) He's a bit oversized for the branches, but I liked him anyway. I used a Spica Red Lipstick to color the berries The sentiment is an Elizabeth Craft rub on, and I thought about coloring it with copics. Decided the original silver of the sticker might help convey the 'frosty' feel of the card. Matted the image with a piece of Moire brown-black that was a snippet, as a mat. Founded a folded red cardbase (ah, more snippets!) left from Christmas card making. I had gotten some C/Bug borders in one of the Florida shopping runs-there's 5 slim borders in the pkg- and embossed 3 sides of the cardbase. I had to open the card to run through the Big Shot, and the edge of the border EF sort of created a tear on the back side of the cardbase, up at the very top...sort of a gouge. So I took 2 more pieces of snippet c/s, embossed those, and adhered them to the back on each side. I hope it will look planned!!! This card is for a friend who is dealing with some Life's Onion at the moment, and I wanted the person to know she was in my thoughts. Thanks for coming to visit, and hope your tomorrow is filled with wonderful things.
Hmm, maybe I'll bop over to the Playground and see what those crafty girls are up to...won't you come along to join in the fun? I promise, there's ALWAYS something crazy going on.
 

1/09/2013

WOYWW

Work Desk

Airbrushing station
Good morning Bloggers. Thanks for joining me. I am going to attempt to participate in the WOYWW that I have enjoyed for a while. I look at the participants' work areas (blushing because mine was so terribly messy) and decided I would at least clean the place up enough so that I could share it (mind you, this is in the hope that it will motivate me to do a BIG straightening up of the space where I do my stamping). So here goes: I'm going to attempt to link here with Miss Julia and hope I'm successful. I'm toggling screens in between Chrome (so I can post the piccies) and IE, so I can find my favorites! Dunno how to get my fav blogs over into Chrome. Downloaded Firefox last night 'cause I heard that was a good browser and no one was having the picture problem I had...dunno how to do the favs in that either! Ah, old dogs must learn new tricks. I didn't go into any explanation of what is on the work desk...I think the picture pretty well shows exactly what IS on the space! The other picture is where I do the airbrushing when I create a background. The silver thing-y is a compressor. The cubbies are storage units we have picked up at Michael's when they have a 50% sale...I think the manufacturer is Recollections, but not sure. I store my Copic refills here, some stamp pads I don't use often. The little window up on the right side of the picture is one of the 2 windows we have in the basement area. It's at ground level, so not much natural lighting. Therefore I have lots of Ott lights, and buy 'em when they go on sale. Still not as good as natural light...but this is where I work! Have a wonderful day and thanks for joining me. Hugs.

1/08/2013

Organization

Area beside my desk
Good morning and thanks for dropping by to visit. I wrote about a posting picture problem I encountered yesterday, and got so many good responses. Thank you again to all who took time to either post a suggestion or email me. Yesterday I used my regular routine of starting a post using Internet Explorer. The post defaults to compose mode (the tool bar at the top of the post when a new post is begun), then switched to the HTML to link in the picture. Then I was able to see a browse button, and browse to the particular file on my pc that I wanted to insert in the post. Then switched back to COMPOSE mode to write the post. Worked fine...once I knew to do that!
Area in front of the desk with all the 6x6 paper & other mess
A couple of suggestions were to update Google Chrome. I had Chrome on the pc, but don't use it. So today I thought I'd see what that little guy did. I didn't exactly 'update' Chrome, but just opened it, (didn't see Favorites which is how I usually get to my blog & everyone else's...so I had to think of the entire blogname..and I've not yet had my coffee LOL). Got to the site, selected new post from the menu, and immediately tried to insert my pictures that I wanted to use. Worked just fine, with no switching back & forth between Compose & HTML. Go figure...Anyway, I've written about the total chaos in my stamping area, so I took some pictures the other night. My rationale is if I share this mess, I will have to post some updates as to what I'm doing to get it under control. I DID get my desk sorta - kinda - cleaned off from the Christmas card making, so I'll try to enter the WOYWW this week. Hey, I just found I can have Google & IE opened at the same time and get to my favorites...Woohoo. Gotta run, got a dental appt at 10:30, and have to get presentable. Thanks as always for visiting, have a wonderful Tuesday, and I hope my explanation above will help anyone else who encounters this picture problem in posting. Hugs & Blessings.

1/07/2013

Birthday



 
Hello Bloggers and OH THANK YOU to the lovely & so Blog-talented folks who were kind enough to take the time to share their knowledge of how to fix this problem I had this morning. Two of you that I read your emails first were ValeryAnne & Brenda. Ladies, you're the greatest. There were several others who offered the same suggestions, and some different things. I opened Valery's & Brenda's first, they both gave the same instructions (which my tired brain was able to follow) so here's my card! YIPPEE. I was getting frustrated this morning, trying to think if I'd changed something on the pc (didn't remember changing anything, but sometimes that stupid cookie setting can mess up stuff...GRRRR). I had my opthamology appt this afternoon, & my allergy clinic is on the same path, so decided to get my allergy shot, do my 30 minute wait, grab a quick bite of late lunch, then off to the eye guy to get a stitch out. Didn't even feel when he did it, but I can tell now...just a bit sore-ish. Nothing bad. Also just drove myself at dark, and didn't like that either. Which is one of the reasons I had this surgery...I was noticing that I'm not reading street signs as fast or as sharply as I wish to. Well, we'll see how it improves, and maybe I'll get the right eye done in about a month. Oh by the way, remember my hunt for old pre-lasik eye measurements..which I was POSITIVE I had gotten 2 yrs ago? And nowhere could I find this info after searching through where I keep such records...about 5 times...taking everything out of folders, to no avail. Dr. office said they didn't have, yet my daughter remembered me saying I took to the office. Well, the evening before we headed south, I was filing some stuff like bills I had epaid, receipts, what-not. Guess what I found? Yep, right where I had looked multiple times. DH said - quickly and somewhat defensively - "I didn't put it there". Well, of course he didn't! He wouldn't have known what I was looking for anyway, but he did offer to help me look the night I was tearing my hair out looking for the dratted stuff. Personally, I believe in angels, and I think that is what happened! (and kidding aside, I've had things like this occur before. A natural reason for it to occur? Well, maybe, but I know how hard I looked for this stuff.) Anyway, made a copy and gave it in the dr's hands to put in my folder, and he said the measurements had changed, but we still are ok. But will help with the right eye if I decide to go ahead. Sorry, just had to vent here a little bit!

Here's the card specs: I am still trying to do the Heather Telford sponging technique, still not getting to my satisfaction. This time I used a splotchy dot stamp (think it is Hampton Art from Michaels), that had a sort of snow pattern look. I used Versamark & stamped it on the top part of the cardstock, masking the bottom. Next sponged on Memento Summer Sky just across the top, then sponged very lightly with Bahama Blue to darken the corners. Using a curvy template I started sponging again with Summer Sky, trying for the snow-mound look. The tree stamp was first inked with Versamark, stamped using a stamp positioner while I stamped. Reinked with Memento Norfolk Pine, still had the positioner in place, tried to move it down just a smidge before I restamped. Did this with all 3 trees. (Edit: Forgot to say I heat embossed the trees with Ranger Fine Detail Clear after stamping the green tree over the Versamark tree...supposed to look like snow. Heather's does...not sure mine does so much! LOL).  Then saw 2 of the Memory Box Deer Trio 98166 left over pieces from Christmas cards (AH, a SNIPPET!) I decided to add the deer. Deer had been stamped on cream cardstock, which didn't look too great on the 'snow', so I colored with copics in light W grays, then with a couple of the E earth markers to get a 'winter deer coat' look. Adhered the deer with SU pop-dots, then used a Memento London Fog gray marker to get their footprints in the snow. I haven't seen all those lovely ladies at the Playground for a long time. Hmmm...wonder if anybody is around ....I need some playtime! Hope you'll join me there. Let's see if I can link up properly. Thanks for joining me, and listening to this much-too long post. Hugs & Blessings.

Miscellaneous

Good morning & welcome to a new follower! That blog candy is getting closer folks. I'm having a problem (hopefully just with blogger) this morning. I have a card to share, but I can't seem to get the picture posted. I store the images on my hard drive, and insert the image using the 'insert image' button on the toolbar of the blogger page. Today when I click the 'insert image' button, I can see the add jpg, png,gif that I usually see, but nothing is happening. I can't get the browse to location so I can select my picture. I can go to Picassa, but I don't store my pictures on Picassa. I did at first until I read somewhere that you are only allowed 'X' amount of free storage, so I moved all the linking of pictures back to my hard drive. It's been working fine so far. Anyway, this morning....I can't seem to insert my picture. Been trying for a bit, logging off, logging back on, and I'm not aware of changing anything in my pc setup. Just thought I'd go ahead with this post and ask if anyone else is having the same problem???And what did you do so that you can go back to posting pictures? I have some errands & dr's appointments today, so I have to get up & start getting ready to meet the day. I'll try back later....I DO have a card to post today. Also did a bit more organization, and have a couple pictures of the mess I'm trying to corral as well. Hope someone has a couple of fix-it suggestions for me! In the meantime, have a wonderful Monday and thanks so much for stopping to visit. Hugs & Blessings.

1/05/2013

Miscellaneous

Good evening & welcome. I hope that your first Saturday in 2013 has been a pleasant one. Mine has been quiet...I've been busy all day, but gosh, I'm not sure I can see that I've actually accomplished anything much. I have been down in my stamp area most of the afternoon. Had great intentions of getting some very needed cards finished. However, as you've heard me say, I have a real mess in that area. So I decided to get me busy and do some straightening up. Brought back some plastic storage boxes for papers, etc. as I got some gift cards for Christmas. There is an older JoAnn's near the DD, and a REALLY NICE JoAnn's about 45 minutes from where she lives. (but close to where she used to live, which is how I know about it!) One day when I was dreading the inevitable goodbye, which I do not handle well at all, DH was trying to distract me, so suggested we take a ride over to the REALLY NICE JoAnn's. I had already blown my gift card at the older one, but hey, I can always go to JoAnn's...especially since I don't have a nice one close to my area. Off we go, and while this store was pretty well picked over from the Christmas holiday, it still had some good sales. So I've been rummaging through bags, trying to store some of the stuff I brought home, & hopefully be able to find it again when I need it. Tonight after dinner, I'm going to get my label maker out, and do some labeling. Maybe that will help when I'm thinking in a week or two "What the heck did I do with that?"  Who knows, one of these days - I may even feel like I am neat enough to participate in WOYWW. That's one of my goals, along with having the area straightened up so I can create in an atmosphere of non-cluttered chaos.  Maybe tomorrow I can get a card posted. If not, I'll try to take some pictures of what I'm doing, and you can give me some suggestions about organization. So happy Saturday, and thanks for coming by to visit. Hugs & Blessings.