Archive for July, 2007:
Blog Candy
Wow, I’m at 3,000 hits already, and to celebrate I’m offering up some blog candy. The prize includes a card made by me, clear stamps, and ribbon. All you have to do are two things: sign my guest book, and tell me how you found my site.
Subscribe to the comments for this postPete’s Boutique
Early in the morning I received a telephone call from Carol to say she and Sharon were going to meet at noon for pizza and invited me along. After I was all dressed up and surfing on the computer I received a call from Sharon saying that Carol was held up with putting laundry out on her line, and they would be along shortly to go to Pete’s. Okay, I said all cheerful. After I hung up I quickly ran upstairs to change. How silly for me to hear “pizza” when Carol said “Pete’s.” Carol (left) and Sharon (right) are getting coffee for the road at the Coffee Lodge.
This is why I changed my clothes. This photo makes Pete’s “boutique” look bright and clean. NOT. The lights are half lit and it is junky, junky, junky. We are serious shoppers and appreciate each and every item in the “boutique.” Pete is an auctioner and what does not sell, he carefully displays around his giant store. There are no prices; we take up what we want and he gives us a deal. This is where I get my black & white photos for altered books, and music sheets for cards, and even silver flatware that I decorate with beads. I purchase silver coffee pots, teapots, and silver flatware to make windchimes. There is so many unique ways to use the treasure we find.
Luck was definately on Carol’s side as she beat me to these adorable dessert dishes and plates. Can you believe she got all those for only $10? She doesn’t know this, but I held my breath hoping she would decide not to take them. My sister Cathie is going to laugh when she reads this because I am the one who always finds the buys when I’m with my sister, and she misses out. Cathie quickly learned to walk in front of me–LOL.
After we were finished inside, we ventured out back to see what goodies there were. See that turquoise bag in the middle area of the photo? That’s what I grabbed for my stamp’n table. After a good wash it would hold my scissors, glue stick, paper piercer, exacto knife, etc.
Just what Sharon & Carol are looking for–that “perfect” door for their outdoor garden. Sharon bought two and Carol bought one. I wanted one too, but my condominium has rules about how high anything can be, and I think I would upset the apple cart by placing a tall old door in my backyard–LOL.
Ribbon, and More Ribbon
TGIF. The weekend is finally here, and the week long festivities over at Splitcoast Stampers is in progress for Fan Club members. Is anyone participating?
I’m a ribbon fanatic, but who isn’t these days. There are bloggers who run ribbon shares, and people like me who sign up. The biggest bargain right now is at Hobby Lobby where there are 30 yards of ribbon for $1.99. Each bag has 15 strips with 2 yards, and variety varies with each package. If there is a bargain to be had, I’m right there in line.
These cute little bunnies are surrounded by ribbon; on the bottom, behind the flower and on the right hand side. This card was inspired by Maria’s challenge of using ribbon on our card. I’m sure you’re familiar with Maria’s name, as I enter her challenges each week. Maria has two blog sites: one for Stamp’n Up and one for “other” companies. Click here to see what other stampers have done with ribbon on her Card Inspired site. Everyone has used ribbon in different ways, and just like Maria said, “it’s nice to see what different stampers come up with.” While visiting Maria’s site, check out her link for her Stamp’n Up site for even more inspiration.
The second submission I am making is to Caardvarks. Click here to be directed to details on their ribbon contest. There are many wonderful samples, and once again, there are many variations in the use of ribbon.
Well, it’s very late and it’s time to go to bed to spend 15 minutes looking through my newest addition of Stamper’s Sampler. I’m too tired to read it all, and I’m sure you are like me and when a new magazine is in hand, it is hard not to read it immediately. Enjoy your weekend–and keep safe.
Swing Card Tutorial
Paper cutter
Stamps
Ink pad and Versa Mark pad
Heat Embosser
Variety of Embossing Powders
Paper cutter with score blade
2 pieces of 2 ¾ x 3 ¾ cardstock (for centre piece)
2 pieces of 2 ½ x 3 ½ cardstock (for verse)
1 piece of 3 x 4 scrap of paper or cardstock
Place your large piece of cardstock in the paper cutter horizontally. Line up the blade at 2 ¾ inches and make a 1 ¼ inch score starting from the bottom. Repeat again at the top of your cardstock.
Turn your card around and repeat cuts as above.
Place your cardstock back into the paper cutter horizontally, and cut 1 1/4 inches to 4 1/4 inches.
Splitcoast Stampers
Today I am going to share a small tip, with big results. Are you tired of only having 48 images on a page? Want 90? Here’s what you do: Chose “48″ as your choice for the number of images on your page. Then, go way up to the address bar and look for the number 48. Carefully delete the number 48, and type in 90 and then “enter.” Whalaa, you now have 90 images. If you have any questions regarding this tip, please leave me a note and I will try to help out.
Happiness Always
Good morning all! Today’s card was inspired from Splitcoast Stamper’s Colour Challenge, using Old Olive, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink.
Pretty in Pink was embossed with my Cuttlebug, and Old Olive was stamped with a Castaway pad. For those of you who are not family with the Castaway pad, it is an amazing pad that bleaches out the image, without the mess of using real bleach. Stamp your image, let it dry, then heat with a hot iron. Coincidentally, the image bleached out in a Pretty in Pink colour. I’d love to say I had that planned, but I won’t–LOL.
For the image, I used the flower from the Happy Harmony set. Using the same technique as yesterday’s card, I misted my stamp, then coloured with watercolour crayons, and stamped onto glossy cardstock. Once dry, I sprayed the image with a sealer to prevent the image from smudging. Pop up dots were adhered to give the card some added dimension.
Finally, a decorative corner was cut from my Cuttlebug, and adhered with a glue stick. Old Olive ribbon was tied, and finally, “Happiness Always” was stamped directly onto Old Olive cardstock.
Pushing Up Daisies
Good afternoon. Did everyone have a great weekend? Boy was I busy with Sarnia’s Bayfest where I volunteered in the beer tent. Big names were brought into town for a four day concert: Toby Keith, Aerosmith, and Def Leppard. On Sunday some of the volunteers got together for a barbecue to celebrate the success of the event. Now it’s Monday, and into my weekly routine.
Today’s card was made for Maria’s challenge where she asked us to make a card with a photo. I was extremely stumped until I saw a photo of daisies. Having just made a few watercolour images on glossy cardstock, I knew that I had to pair the two together. My watercolour inspiration came from Penelope, whose blog I recently discovered. Penelope isn’t afraid to experiment, and her cards are gorgeous.
Take a peak at Maria’s site for more photo-inspired cards. You won’t be disappointed. Maria did a lovely card with a photo of her daughter, and she plans to give them to her one day when she is all grown up. How special.
Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a great day.
Rock’n Girl Blog
Yahoo, I was nominated twice for the Rock’n Girl Blog. Sarah and Pamela are two bloggers I met on the Stamp Shack. Sarah is a fellow card artist from Nova Scotia who does wonderful creations with, and without stamps. Although I didn’t know her while I lived in Nova Scotia, I became good friends with her through the Stamp Shack. Pam is known as Smileycollector on the Stamp Shack and is a talented lady who creates beautiful cards. She is a lover of yard sales, like me, and I enjoy reading about her purchases.
The task at hand is for me to now nominate five blogger girls that I like feel are talented. There are so many wonderful blogs that I visit daily and it isn’t easy to pick just five.
Maria is a creative card artist that I have been reading for close to a year now. I am a subscriber to her blog and became on-line friends as a participant of her Tuesday challenges. I have a lot of respect for Maria and she has given me a lot of inspiration. Some of her challenges are just that–challenging. She has me pushing the envelope. Please visit her blogs. She has two: one for Stamp’n Up images and another for all other images. You won’t be disappointed.
Stacy has been a penpal of mine for quite some time. We met through the Stamp-Shack. Her work is beautiful, and incorporates card making with a lot of paper, with, and without, stamps. She recently won a prize at the Caardvarks site for her work.
Marja, is a very talented lady from the Netherlands. I met her through the Stamp-Shack and Splitcoast Stampers. Her cards and other projects offer a lot of inspiration. Although her blog isn’t in English, the pictures are worth a thousand words.
Michelle is an amazing card artist who is well known to the Fan Club of Splitcoast Stampers. Michelle is part of the Dirty Dozen, and I gather so much inspiration from this woman. I live for the 15th of every month where I can view the newest addition to the Fan Club gallery. Michelle’s work rocks! I wouldn’t want to be without her blog!
Godelieve is a talented woman from the Netherlands. Anyone who reads blogs and visits Two Peas in a Bucket will recognize her name, as she is a talented artist who dazzles us with her years of experience. She is very creative and uses Ecoline a lot.
I wish I could nominate more than just five bloggers; there are so many wonderful and talented ladies out there. As a subscriber to over 50 blogs, I feel I know my artists well, and the five ladies I nominated truly deserve a round of applause.
Today’s cards use, once again, the Tapestry of Life technique. For directions click here. Thank you for all the compliments received on this technique. I didn’t realize how many stampers would love this technique, and was humbled by the numerous comments left on message boards where I posted my cards. These two cards were made as templates for a card class I will be teaching. In this first card, I used Cool Carribbean in the background, and paired Magnolia patterned paper and a cranberry colour cardstock. Tapestry background was made using Adirondack’s Stream and Cranberry. Ribbon and brads were added to embellish the card. Stamped on the tapestry is a new stamp from Hero Arts. It was stamped in ColorBox Frost White and heat embossed with Ranger’s Seafoam White. The verse, “in everything give Thanks”, was stamped directly on tapestry.
This second card is layered using Basic Grey, Hunter Green and Gold. Tapestry was made using Hunter Green and Cranberry Crisp. “Dreams come a size too big so we can grow into them” was stamped on pink paper, matted, and placed over the image with pop up dots. Ribbon was the only embellishment added to this card.
Now, for your advice. Which card do you think I should teach? Thank you for your help.
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