Happy New Year's Eve!

While my loving, adoring husband is out in the cold weather picking up our to-go dinner at Chili's tonight, I thought I would share with you my latest creation! This is a DIGITAL stamp. I have avoided them thus far successfully because I am a firm believer of the hands-on-ness (is that a word?) of the art of stamping. Digital images kinda take the fun outta things. However, I was in need of a new image, and I just can't find money in the budget to buy more. So, free is good. I will link back to her blog. (see, it's all good)

This image is from Paper Garden Projects. I used stampin' up markers and the watercolor pen to complete the flowers, stems and the jar. Enjoy!

Featured Stamp: Happiness by Local King

Like I mentioned before, I have been going CRAZY with my card making during this holiday break. I am in love with this company also. They are actually Canadian, I believe. This beautiful background stamp is from Local King Rubber Stamp. If you go to there site, they will only show you their catalog.(bummer...but it gives to TONS of pictures of their beautiful wildlife stamps that you simply cannot find anywhere else. 

Featured Stamp: DesignBlock Birthday by Hero Arts

 With my December break in full swing, I have been going crazy making new cards. I have seen this three layer card technique everywhere. I have been pulling out my extra-large background stamps and making lots of them. 

Here are two different versions using the same stamp.This stamp is from Hero Arts. (what a great stamp line, definitely one of my favorite stamping companies) If you are looking for the dimensions to re-create this three-layer design, I used Darlene's. Her blog was my inspiration for the three layer card.

 Duo#2 is the same idea, but I split the card into three horizontal bars instead. The message was in the center, so that is why I chose that method. I think it works!I used my distress inks to create the background.  Enjoy!

Featured Stamp: Butterflies

Happy December!
I was hired by the local school district, so I am pleased to announce that I can stop searching for a home, and I can get back to my passion, Card making! Here is my most recent Duo! I didn't take the time to record all the supplies I used. If you are curious, feel free to contact me, and I will do my best to help.

This butterfly is one of my very first purchases when I began crafting 10 years ago. It is the most versatile, well-loved stamp in my collection. I always run back to it, when I am stuck.  lol! The only markings that tell me where I purchased from is: savvystamps.com. It looks like their site/blog is still up and running!

As you can tell, I love purple, and I used it as a mat for both cards. The pearls and ribbon add a finishing touch.                                                      

Featured Stamp: Whumsy Daisy by Endless Creations

This Duo shows two simple cards that illustrate the elegance of two flowers and a sentiment. I also found this stamp at the convention I attended in Orlando last month. I had to have it! The neat feature of this stamp in it had one flower on one side of the wooden block and the reversed image on the back. It's like two stamps for the price of one!

Duo #1 - Features the Whumsy Daisy stamp. I used perfect plum and glorious green pens to color in the flowers and stems. I cut the ovals using my Cricut once in white and one a slight bit bigger in black. I finished it off with whisper white ribbon and a small sentiment "for you".

Duo #2 - I used the same stamp. I used pink pirouette and glorious green pens and paper. The sentiment is called Precious Gift by Stampendous. (2002) I used the same stamp on the background using color-on-color technique. Love that! Enjoy! See you soon!

Featured Stamp: Rose by Local King Rubber Stamp

This company is very quickly becoming my favorite small line of stamps. I can never pass by their booth without falling in love with a dozen stamps. The cool thing about their line, is most of the more complicated images come with a matching die. The technique they feature at the table is to use water based markers as randomly and as messily (is that a word?) as you can, and the images come out amazingly! Here is my duo for you to enjoy!

 



Duo on the left features the Rose stamp and its matching die by Local King Rubber stamp. I used Stampin up! paper with tumbled glass distress ink by ranger. The over was sponged with a mini ink pad that I have had for years. I am not sure if versacolor makes the heliotrope color anymore. I used the en francais and perfect words (hostess) sets. I added blue rhinestone and a touch of blue fiber for the tag.

Duo on the right uses the Rose stamp as its focus. The purple beneath it is another mini pad I had from Ancient page dye (foxglove) with another  Local King Rubber  background stamp called Happiness. I popped the background using an embossing folder, but before I ran it through my cuttlebug, I inked the negative side with some tumbled glass distress ink. and touched the edges up with black. (don't see the small smear...opps) I am still learning!  :)

Enjoy, and see you soon!

Featured Technique: Blending with Masking

Welcome,
For this duo I cannot take credit for the idea. I leaned on another artist for inspiration for these; Darlene. I love the simplicity of this card, and how it can be used for many occasions.

For Duo #1 - I used light tack masking tape (my husband uses it in his line of work, I borrowed it from him) to frame one inch around the card. With bashful blue, pretty in pink, and certainly celery I blended the three in order with my blending tool. I used a tiny butterfly punch to punch out the three butterflies and used a black marker to create the path and the border.

For Duo #2 -  I re-used the same pieces of masking tape to create the frame. I blended dusty concord and worn lipstick distress ink with pacific point to create the background. I found a little foot punch that was in my "sell" pile, and decided to imitate two friends walking along side together for this card. I used the darker colors to give the impression of harder times. (did it work?) Again I used a black marker to create a random frame. Enjoy!

Featured Stamp: Flower by Purple Daisy Designs

This week's duo features a very elegant daisy stamp that I found at a local stamp convention I attended a few months back. I am kicking myself for not purchasing the other matching stamps that went with this flower. (ohh well, I can't take them ALL home, can I?) This stamp is so versatile, and yet so simple.

In the first card, I used the Just for fun film frame and template. I used tempting turquoise and passion pink (paper too) with staz-on jet back ink.

The second card in the duo uses brilliant blue and glorious green stampin' up ink. Both cards have the true friend stamp from stampin' up. I am not sure which set it is from. Enjoy!

Featured Stamp: Agapanthus Cluster by Stampendous

I have decided to begin my blog again. I am really excited to get this up and running. When I really take hold of this and run with it, I will be purchasing my own domain name and make it more formal. Until then I wish to introduce my first DUO. I will be featuring one stamp, or one set of stamps for each post. Each stamp will be displayed in two cards. These cards feature the stamp: Stampendous P107 Agapanthus Cluster.