Nature Silhouette

Here is a card that I made using a new technique from the Technique Junkies Newsletter called Pulled Glimmers. It is so difficult to show the shimmer on this.

The stamp is by Innovative Stamp Creations from the Nature Silhouette I set. I used the CPS card sketch #170. I probably should have trimmed down the top layer, but I just couldn't bare to trim it at all.

Stamps: Nature Silhouette I (ISC), Ink: Jet Black (Ranger); Paper: Lavender Lace, Basic Black Whisper White, So Saffron, Eggplant Envy; Accessories: Glimmer Mist; Scallop Punch.

Freebie In Action

Sandy from It's a Colourful World offered up this incredible free digi. I showed it to my DS and he chose a couple of the images, so I printed them out for him to color to send to his Daddy overseas. I rarely post without sharing some card or project that I have made, but this time all I have to offer is my DS's artwork, (or should I say colorwork! LOL!)


Here he is hard at work. (Ignore that cushionless couch, it has been attacked by the Fort-Master this week-end!) ;)

Here he is with his completed cards. Those "lines" over his puppy are rainbows. And yes, he meant to have his fingers up like that, always one to make some silly look! Thanks so much Sandy for this wonderful images!

I have discoverd a wonderful singing group. I bought their CD and nearly always get teary during one or another of their songs. 4Troops has some perfect music for this Memorial Day! If I did this right, you should be able to watch one of their videos.



For all those that support our troops, thank you! Your support means so much to them and their families! Blessings on this Memorial Day!

OWH Memorial Day Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on this wonderful Memorial Day Week-end Bloghop! If you are following the hop you should have arrived here from Stephanie's blog, SeaSteph's Creations. If you arrived some other way please feel free to start at the beginning of the hop at the OWH blog!

I have always felt a connection with Memorial Day, probably because my birthday is May 28th. I am also a Veteran, married to a soldier that is deployed overseas this year. I so appreciate those who serve and have served in our Armed Forces to keep our great nation safe and free. My deepest and heartfelt thanks goes out to you.

I also appreciate those families that serve and sacrifice, giving loved ones to our military; providing the stability and strength that our military members require in order to serve wherever our nation sends them. Thank you!


On my card I used Our Daily Bread Designs' God Bless America, using the Pyramid technique that I learned from Sherry Cleever's blog. It may be difficult to see, but the flag is made up of four layers. (You can click on the picture to see it bigger.) I colored the flag using watercolor pencils, baby oil and a blending stump.

The sentiment is from Verve's Heartfelt Phrases. I thought this sentiment appropriate. (I think I'll tuck this card into the box I am readying for my husband!)

For the tag I used one of the Nestabilities Trio Tags. I wanted it to stand out from the flag and after a bit of experimenting used a blender pen on the inside of the Nestability, quickly put my paper in place and ran it through my CB. Once cut, I put it in a fine black embossing powder. After I heated the EP I had to fill in the areas the powder didn't stick and reheat. I eventually got this tag.

I threaded some thin black organdy ribbon through the tag and put it all together. I still needed something and ended up adding some Diamond Stickles to the stars.

I hope you have enjoyed my card, feel free to leave a comment as reading your comments makes it all worthwhile. Now hop over to Dawn's blog, The Chatty Stamper. For some reason Blogger will not allow me to embed the link to Dawn's blog, so here it is: http://thechattystamper.blogspot.com/2010/05/owh-memorial-day-blog-hop-2010-give-way.html Please cut and paste if this still won't link, you don't want to miss Dawn's wonderful artwork!

If I had a flower

Here is a card I made for a friend to say "thank you." She is one of the best hostesses I have ever met and I love to join whatever event she is hosting. (Shhhh Michelle, don't tell her about this card!)

Now on to the card! I used a sentiment from PMS called If I Had A Flower. The sentiment reads: "If I had a flower for every time you made me smile, I would walk in a garden." Isn't that just beautiful? I used a Technique Junkie (TJ) technique called Wisped Frames (Feb 2010) and Desert Sand ink, but the color wasn't right for the copper background so I added Potter's Clay. Ahhh, much better!


Now speaking of the copper background, this is another TJ technique called Double Embossed Metal (Feb 2010). This is actually a think craft sheet of copper metal. This second picture shows the metal sheet and it's technique a little better. I used my Copic markers to color on the metal sheet. (LOVE those Copic markers!)

I used oval and scalloped oval Nestabilities for the sentiment layer. The ribbon is two different widths of organdy blue ribbon.

Stamps: If I Had A Flower (PMS); Ink: Desert Sand & Potter's Clay (Memento); Paper: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa & Very Vanilla (SU); Accessories: Light & Dark blue organdy ribbon, Copic Markers, large sponge daubers, CB & folders: Bird & Swirls and Victoria.

IBFS Butterfly

Well, my MIL has definitely received her card, so its safe to post here. :)

I received my order from IBFS and wanted to use this graceful butterfly stamp called Butterfly Rose Collage. I stamped it on glossy with Staz-On and used my SU markers to color the image. Yes, you read right, my SU markers! I haven't used them in ages, in fact, my DS uses them more than I do now that I have some Copic markers. ;)


I used an oval Nestie to cut the center out of the vellum. I sprayed the vellum with Pearl Glimmer mist and it curled much worse than I anticipated. I had to flatten it out under some heavy binders. That only helped a little. I used the CB corners and attached with mini black brads to attach the vellum. I still had some curl in the vellum so I had to try to glue down edges under the corners. Yes, this card was a bit trying, but worth it in the end I believe. The vellum looks better IRL I believe with the shimmer from the Glimmer Mist. It took so long to get the results that I had in my head it ended up being sent late. So glad I have a sweet MIL!

I almost forgot to mention that the card sketch I used is this month's current sketch challenge over at Rubber Stamp Chat. Check it out, some Smeared Ink rubber is being offered up to this month's winner!

Birthday Paradise

Doesn't this look like a fun place to be? Especially with the cool wind that was blowing here all day, I'll take paradise!

I used a set I recently purchased from Artful Inkables called Paradise Island. I am going to give this to my DH for his birthday. Yes, I know it doesn't say happy birthday on it. Humor me, my DH is deployed "to a very hot region" and I know he'll be working as normal on his birthday. So this sentiment just seemed so appropriate!

I used 2 Sketches 4 You #48 Bonus sketch for the layout. Then I used the Copic Colour Challenge #56 to use BV02, G02 and B32. I also used Copic Creations challenge #24 to use your favorite Copic technique, (I used feather blending, check out my flower.) AND I used Artful Inkables challenge #16 to make a birthday card in celebration of their birthday. Whew! Only four challenges for one card! LOL!

In other news, I am SO EXCITED! I will be attending the Copic Certification class that will be held in St. Louis in April!! Woo-Hoo!! I am beyond ecstatic! I was so surprised they chose me since I wasn't applying under a store. Our next assignment will probably be back overseas and I would love to be able to do some teaching and I think being certified will be so very helpful.

Stamps: Paradise Island (AI); Ink: Tuxedo Black, Danube Blue & Summer Sky (Memento); Paper: Ballet Blue & Garden Green (SU), Solar White (Neenah); Accessories: Copic markers, stickles, Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities, large sponge dauber, pop dot, purple organdy ribbon (SU).

RSC Challenge

I have been hanging out at RubberStampChat for awhile. It reminds me of SplitcoastStampers before it became so big. Well, they have a monthly challenge that I enjoy doing. Usually it is a sketch challenge and this month is no different. The company sponsoring the challenge this month is Scrolls Work. The challenge sketch can be found here. And here is my submission:

I am really into blues and greens again and added yellow to help "Springify" the card. I used the Spritz and Shimmer technique from the June/July 2007 newsletter. The sentiment is taken from a Scrolls Work stamp the I used the Huff technique so to only use the first two lines of the stamp, (the original stamp is about 3.5" long.) I plan on sending this to my deployed hubby, so I thought just these words were enough. :-)

I used my Copic YR12 marker to color the brads, so they really coordinate with the yellow cardstock and break up the Bashful Blue layer.

Since the front of the card is heavy with all those layers I added a layer to the inside. Brought some of the So Saffron inside to compliment the color scheme. (Sorry for the fuzzy picture, I couldn't get a clear shot no matter how many pictures I took.)


Stamps: Floral Peacock & Missing You (Scrolls Work); Ink: Tuxedo Black, Summer Sky & Cantaloupe (Memento), Basic Black (SU); Paper: Garden Green, Bashful Blue, So Saffron; Accessories: Water, Black detail EP, Perfect Pearls, silver brads, Copic YR12, CB tag & Corner die, Sunflower Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels ~ sentiment layer).

Victoria Case ~ Cosmo Cricket

Have you seen Victoria Case's artwork? I've been keeping an eye on her work. I did purchase a digi at the beginning of the school year, Ben, a boy headed off to school. (It was a limited edition.) I'm on her email list and she recently offed a special and I couldn't resist and bought a few. I mentioned that I would love it if she ever designed a boy gymnast as I haven't been able to find any boy gymnastic stamps for scrapbooking Troy's last few years in gymnastics. Well, don't you know that within a few days she drew two for me!! They are awesome! Take a look at her site! (Just scroll down just a little.) Aren't these great?! Thanks so much Victoria! Troy loves them!

This image, Bee Friends, is one of the stamps that I purchased. I used the SCS CS270 for my layout. I had to add the pearls at the bottom to add some balance. I started out coloring the green because of the Copic Creations color challenge #23 to use green.


Do you follow the Cosmo Cricket blog? Are they hysterical or what??? LOVE reading their blog! I couldn't help but post a comment recently and guess what I won??? Some yummy blog candy: a Double Deck of Material Girl & Garden Variety and some Tiny Type stickers. (I have been watching for Cosmo Cricket at my local large retailer's stores, but haven't jumped in yet.) The designer paper on my card is all from them. I loved the yellows with the Garden Green card base. (That center embossed So Saffron piece looks better IRL, the color didn't scan well.) I love the earthy Spring feel to this card. Thank you so very much Cosmo Cricket! I am really looking forward to using more on some future projects!

Stamps: Bee Friends (Victoria Case); Ink: Tuxedo Black & Cantaloupe (Memento), Paper: Garden Green, So Saffron, Ruby Red (SU), Solar Crest (Neenah), Designer Paper (Cosmo Cricket); Accessories: Copic Markers, various atyou Spica pens, white gel pen(Signo), Label Four (Nestabilities), dew drops (generic).

For Michelle

I'm dedicating this posting to my friend Michelle H. . . . . . blah, blah, blah. . . . (can you believe she finds my postings boring???? LOL! Love ya Michelle!

Now onto serious business! I think my loss of mojo isn't actually lost mojo but rather over whelming stimulus because there is so much inspiration that I become unable to decide which sketches and stamps and colors and. . . . . Well, I'm taking the first steps to wade through and craft again.

Here is a close up of the butterfly.


I started with sketch #47 from 2Sketches4You and decided to make a butterfly my central image. I chose a butterfly from IBFS Things With Wings. Copics Color Challenge #53 provided the colors for the butterfly; Y17, YG03 & C7 (I added YG00.) I sprayed Shimmerz Spritz Babys Breath to give it some shimmer.

Here is the complete card.


The background layer uses the Rainbow Double TJ technique. (You have to be a TJ member to have access to this technique.) The stamps used with this layer are from Sweet N Sassy Stamps called Dream Silhouettes and is a retired clear stamp set. I'm not sure if Korin offers it as a digi.

Stamps: (IBFS), Dream Silhouettes (SNSS); Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), VersaMarker, Certainly Celery; Whisper White Craft (SU); Paper: Wild Wasabi, glossy, So Saffron, Solar White (Neenah); Accessories: Doily Lace boarder Punch (Martha Stewart), Night of Navy Grosgrain ribbon, white embossing powder, pearl dew drops (generic).

Frog Valentine

I first wanted to show you a picture of my Valentine. Before I even got out of bed this morning I had TWO Valentines from my little guy! He used his cardstock but my glitter pens (asking afterward if it was okay! Hahah!)


I was going to post a picture of his Valentines to me, but Blogger won't allow me up upload another picture right now. I will note that the first Valentine's card opened backwards, or perhaps his heart was just upside down! ;)

Before I show you the card I made my DS I wanted to send out a "Thank You!" I actually WON a new set illustrated by Theresa Momber from GinaK's sneak peek last week called Hang In There. Theresa is terrifically talented! I just love seeing her artwork and tutorials. She definitely inspired my card, not just because I used her set. You see, the night I saw on Gina's blog that I had won, my DS came downstairs to get me and I was so excited I showed him the set and a couple of DT samples before I took him back up to bed. Well, he commented that perhaps I could make him a Valentine's card using the cute frogs (he's ALL boy! LOL!) I told him I would if the set arrived in time, (I definitely wasn't expecting it that soon you know, there's always hope.) Imagine my surprise when a package arrived in my mailbox Friday! YES!! It was here and without further ado here is the card I made for him.


I had to take several pictures to get a good shot of this. This card uses the Double Embossed Metal TJ Technique. I was at Hobby Lobby several months ago in the framing section (not usually in that section of HL) and found this roll of soft aluminum on sale so I bought it. I KNEW I'd be able to use it for something! Thanks so much Pat for the inspiration!

The layout is from today's CPS card sketch #154. They actually posted it a bit early (last night) to their Facebook page so I immediately started to use it for this card.

Can you see Theresa's influence on this card? After I colored this cute little guy using my Copic Markers I masked him and sponged all around him. I really like how this turned out!

The DP was embossed with the Leafy Branch folder and brayered Bamboo Leaves (Memento) over to highlight the embossing.

Thanks for reading this far!! Happy Valentine's Day!

Stamps: Hang in There (GinaK); Ink: Memento: Bamboo Leaves, New Sprout, Dandelion & Cantaloupe, SU Basic Black Marker (sentiment); Paper: Wild Wasabi, Neenah Solar White, DCWV Old World textured mat; Accessories: Cuttlebug & Leafy Branch EB folder, Soft Aluminum sheet, Heart punch (Emagination), Large Sponges, Copic Markers: G02, G09, G28, E43, E44, E49, YG00, YG03, YG63.

Yes, I'm still here. . . .

I've been so caught up with the holidays, my DH deploying and getting my DS and I on our routine I've just not had the mojo for stamping. Well, I needed a card for a friend and was motivated to receive a digi freebie from Sweet N' Sassy Stamps (SNSS) on Paper Craft Planet (PCP) that I put together a card. The challenge was an inspiration challenge for "The princess and the frog."

Here is the version I entered at PCP:


To receive the early bird freebie your card had to be uploaded by 10pm and I made it by minutes! After I posted this I noticed that my dew drop moved and required fixing. I went ahead and made some upgrades to the card at that time.

I used this week's sketch by 2 Sketches 4 You, isn't it lovely? I did turn it on it's side so I could use this princess image. Color combo from SCS CC254 was to use Bashful Blue, Soft Suede, Ruby Red and any neutral. I colored using my Copics. Here is the upgraded card:


Stamps: Princess, Forget Me-Nots (both from SNSS); Ink: Tuxedo Black & Summer Sky (Memento), Close to Cocoa (SU); Paper: Close to Cocoa, Ruby Red, Solar White (Neenah), Bashful Blue D/P (SU); Accessories: dew drop (generic) Distress stickles, clear atyou Spica, Copic markers, sponge, brown ribbon (American Crafts) brad (SU).