Floating Re-inker Technique

I love this technique and I love these stamp sets. Aren't the colors luscious?

The flowers are colored using a technique called Floating Re-inker - another reason to buy a bottle of re-inker when you buy a stamp pad.

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Embrace Life
Cardstock: Shimmer White, Rose Red, Lovely Lilac, Glorious Green
Accessories: Re-inkers in Pretty in Pink, Lovely Lilac, and Rose Red; Aquapainter, Big Shot, Scallop Oval die,

Good Neighbor

One of my neighbors, Mike, offered to pick up my mail every day while I've been recuperating. It's been such a blessing because there hasn't been any way that I could get it and sometimes it sat in the mailbox for days. Here is the card I made for him today t0 go along with a dozen black bottom cupcakes. I must say the card is much nicer in real life than appears in the photo. (Edited later: The family was gone away, wouldn't you know? So, today, I have some homemade bread for them when he delivers the mail on this rainy Northwest day)

The grass is made using the scallop edge punch. Punch once, then realign the scallops at the halfway point and punch again.

Stamps: Good Neighbors - current Sale-a-bration freebie option with a $50 order,

Teeny Tiny Wishes

CS: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Orchid Opulance, Shades of Spring Designer Paper from the current Occasions mini catalog

Ink: Certainly Celery, Orchid Opulance, Bashful Blue, Old Olive

Accessories: Dimensionals for the house roof, Soft Subtles blue brads, Scallop Trim Border punch - also a Sale-a-bration freebie option with a $50 order, scallop punch

I'm Back

WOW! Has it been that long since the last posting? Obviously. Much has happened since then, but I'm ready to get stamping again and to share with you on this blog, so, welcome back and - here goes.....

Season of Simple Grace Holy Family

I really like this card - the best yet. It was quite a process of evolution for it is nothing like the card that I envisioned when I planned to use this stamp. I wanted to emboss in white and I wanted to use these colors, but the first samples that I made were so boring. Really. I had to let it sit for a couple of days and simmer. Even then, once I started working on it, it kept changing Isn't it funny how the creative process works sometimes? Of course, some people are more creative than others. I'm definitely in the "other" category. But, I am very happy with this card.

Stamps: Season of Simple Grace
CS: Bravo Burgundy, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Night of Navy
Ink: Whisper White Craft, Versamark
Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Bravo Burgundy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Brocade Blue 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, scallop punch, corner rounder punch, paper piercer and pad.

Joy Journal

This altered Composition Book was intended to be made for the church Bazaar but, as you can see, I missed by just a skosh when fitting the cover. Unfortunately, it was not repositionable. I don't feel comfortable putting it on the sale table with the error, so decided to keep it for my own Joy Journal. The bow got a little squashed in the scanner but you get the idea. This example uses last year's Christmas DSP as well as Letterpress Alphabet stamps, also retired, and retired ribbon. The retired products are just fine for a sale item or a personal item. I will make another journal to donate. I also plan to make a set of cards using this lovely paper from last year. Because these are retired products they are no longer available for purchase, but I hope the sample gives you a starter idea for your own creation. It's a very simple template but the pretty papers make it attractive.

Loads of Love Spinner

My youngest grandson turns nine this coming weekend, so I had fun today making his card. He'll be much more interested in the package than the card, to be sure, but perhaps the novelty of the spinner will get his attention for a moment, anyway. The truck is colored with our water color crayons. Have you used them? I love playing with them. The truck runs on a Word Window cut-out track for most of the "hill". The truck really is more red than it looks here. I used the Really Red crayon and colored it several times to get a deep color.

Stampin' Dimensionals on the road. The foreground hills are adhered only at the edges so they also stand out to give room for the truck to move. I should put a snowcap peak in the background so it looks like going up to our Mt. Rainier. Hmmmm- maybe next time.

Stamps: Loads of Love and Loads of Love Accessories

CS: Bashful Blue, Glorious Green, Naturals White, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Always Artichoke, Black StazOn, Stampin' Up! Watercolor crayons

Accessories: Signo white pen, watercolor brush, Word Window punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

P.S. No comments about driving the wrong side of the road! (chuckle) Must be a two lane road up that mountain. He's not looking where he's going either. Yikes! I think I'll walk.

More Gift Card Holders

The last - at least for now. The gold embossed wreath is from Keep Christmas and Santa from Deer Friends. If you've been following this blog, you've seen these sets before. They are so versatile. The wreath gift card holder is the same style as the candle one on the inside - a panel with slits to hold the card. The Santa one is a pocket - very quick to make. For now, these are just samples for the gals to choose from if they would like.
We need to make some gift card holders that are not for Christmas, too, so I think I will start with Crazy for Cupcakes set. Watch for one or two of those in the near future.