Unity Stamps Tiny Trinity

I always love posting my first card creation using stamps from a company new to me. I joined the Unity Stamps KOM club last month and last week received my first set. The set was HUGE in size and quantity with a FREE set included as an incentive for signing up during the last Hip Hop (blog hop) of the month, which is what I used to create this card.

I did the math for stamps I received and the amount I paid. I think it was under $1 per stamp given my free set. I think this could be a great alternative for those skimming back on stamping $$$. Great quality unmounted red rubber stamps in a whimsical/organic style. I am not much of a scrapper has I have posted before, however, these stamps, given their size and variety in themes are very versatile for cardmakers and scrapbookers alike.

I look forward to seeing what Angela and her company have to offer in the future. The sky is the limit!

Supplies
Stamps: Tiny Trinity & Beginnings and Endings (both Unity Stamps)
Ink: Palette Noir
Paper: Kraft, More Mustard, Very Vanilla, DCWV The Green Stack
Accessories: Copper Brads, Twill Tape, Copics

Riley Flies With Balloons

I had so much fun creating this card for several reasons: 1) It is my dad's birthday card. Always a blast! 2) I {heart} using Riley stamps! 3) I was creative! The Riley Plane image from Hanna Stamps is a fairly long stamp with a blank banner attached to the back of the airplane. I'm not a huge fan of the banner...seems a bit too small to include a message. I haven't experimented with it much, so in time I may change my mind. ;) Dad loves planes, so this will be a perfect fit.

Supplies

Stamps: Riley Airplane (Hanna Stamps), Cupcake Birthday (SU), Cupcakes Sentiment (Inkadinkado)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo, Palette Noir, Bashful Blue

Paper: Archiver's Red, Basic Grey DP, Very Vanilla, PTI White

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Black Photo Pen, Copics

Pin-up Be Mine & Some Liam Pics

Just finished making Mitch's Valentine's Day card. I wanted to try something a bit different this year. lol. Hanna Stamps has a set called Pin-Up that gave me that extra something that I was looking for. Her clothes were stamped onto patterned paper used in the base, cut out and glued over the stamped image. SCS Technique Challenge 207
Please excuse the accidental placement of the bikini top dot. One of those things one doesn't think about until one is admiring their handiwork. Oops.

Supplies
Stamps: Pin-Up (Hanna Stamps), Heart Patterns (PTI)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo
Paper: Bittersweet (Basic Grey)l White (PTI)
Accessories: Martha Stewart Lattice Punch, Word Window Punch, Copics, Making Memories Ribbon, Martha Stewart Heart Gems, Nestabilities

~~~~~~~~Liam Pics~~~~~~~~

(Top - Liam watching tv with daddy's hat on. Bottom - Liam and daddy make a snowman before all the snow melts.)

Key to My Heart

I had a blast stepping out of my comfort zone on this one. This my non-traditional spin on a Valentine's Day card. I purchased this Inkadinkado set not knowing if it would be something I could actually create something I would like. (Sorry...can't remember the name of the set.) 40% off of a stamp set can persuade us to try most anything. lol!

Supplies
Stamps: Inkadinkado
Ink: Memento Tuxedo
Paper: DP (DCWV), White (PTI), Black
Accessories: Heart Gem (Martha Stewart), Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Nestabilities

Valentine's Day Banner

I have been thinking about creating a fun banner for quite awhile, then when I saw the January/February issue of PaperCrafts magazine with Cath Edvalson's "moxie fab" article Celebrating Banners kicked me into full gear. ("Moxie Fab" is Cath's term "for something truly original, amazingly inspirational, or uber cool.") I do not tend to do much other papercrafting than cards and small scrapbook pages, so this new format has been a fun change for me. (Click on the pics for more detail.)

I have also been deliberating which banner stamp set(s) I would like for "uber cool" birthday cards this year. Papertrey Ink has one called It's a Celebration. If you have any suggestions, feel free to post in the comments.

The project was not very time consuming. I used simple supplies. Nothing complicated at all. I made three banners and hung them together. One for each of the two most important guys in my life, Mitch and Liam, and one for myself. It's pretty snazzy looking in contrast to our house in midst of the remodel.

Supplies
Stamps: Bella Toile (SU)
Ink: Memento Black
Paper: Raspberry Fizz, PTI White
Accessories: White grosgrain ribbon, Nestabilities - hearts, Pink Glitter Chipboard Thickers

Always a Happy Heart

Just a quick post on my way to bed. I finished this card yesterday for SCS Color Challenge 202.

Night!

Supplies
Stamps: A Happy Heart (SU), Heart Pattern (PTI)
Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Old Olive, Regal Rose
Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla, Sugared DP (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Fabric Flowers (Joann), Pearls (Hero Arts), Nestabilities – Labels 1, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Frosted Lace Stickles, Copper Brads (Making Memories), Paper Piercing Tool

Crazy Week & Copic Craze

What a long a crazy week we have had! Two hour delays on Monday and Tuesday, early dismissal on Wednesday, Thursday through Saturday AM OMEA (Ohio Music Education Association) Professional Development Conference, hanging out with Jeff's family on Saturday afternoon and evening and finally some time at home on Sunday after church....oh yeah, and SNOW!

Convention was so different for me this year. I went to a few interesting sessions, but didn't have much that really that impressed me. (I'm so difficult.) I enjoyed very much finding music materials for early childhood - infant through toddler - since I and many of my friends have children at this age. I have been disappointed with the lack of opportunity in this area for young children when it comes to classes offered, so I purchased a curriculum written by John H. Feierabend entitled First Steps in Music for Infants and Toddlers, which is a collection of 20 years of research on the part of the author to find childrens' music which is in danger of being lost to the ages. ( Folksongs, nursery rhymes, etc.) The curriculum consists of an instruction guide, CD's and motor skill specific books for particular activities and songs. I also purchased some super cute jazz story books, which include equally adorable jazz CD's with genre appropriate pieces of music based on standards. (Louis Lion, Duck Ellington, Charlie Bird, Ella Elephant) VERY COOL! I'll stop here with this, but if you have any questions concerning any of these materials feel free to leave me a comment and I will get back with you.

Onto the copic craze...I was finally bitten by the copic (CO-pic) bug. I decided to at least try the copics since they seem to be all the rage lately. I kept telling myself that I couldn't justify the $$$ I would be spending considering that I have watercolor pencils, gamsol, colored pencils, watercolors, sparkling H2o's and the entire collection of SU markers for coloring. I hate to color. It always tends to look...crappy and juvenile. (With that said, I love Liam's coloring. lol!)

Due to the extensive selection of markers and the need to coordinate colors for the best coloring and shading options, I decided to cut my time and stress by ordering the preselected Riley set of Ciao Copics from Hanna Stamps and a couple of Riley stamps to experiment. This set was specifically designed to be used with the adorable Riley moose stamps with browns, tans, grays and a pink. Perfect!

Riley and his markers arrived while I was away at my conference...incidentally, the temps got down to -19 F this week with even lower wicked wind chills. I was slightly nervous that my markers would be in bad shape when I finally got to them. No problem at all. A little cold but perfectly fluid. I just got a chance to sit down and play with them today. OMG! I used to hate to color...I love it! Everything simply looks better. It is more vibrate, even and rich. There is definitely a learning curve involved here, but with experimentation and Copic product specialist Marianne's blog (I Like Markers) I think this will be an absolutely wonderful upgrade to my stamping.

Here is a pic of my first copic colored card. I am sure I will look back on this and laugh or gag someday, but at this point, I am pretty darn happy. This Riley is usually sporting a shamrock on his hat and a stout in his hand, but in lue of Valentine's Day I used the heart from an alphabet set to fit the upcoming holiday a bit better.

Update: Kristi Ferro, owner of Hanna Stamps, featured this card on her blog on today. To use a quote by Julie HRR, "....THUD!" I would also like to give a shout out to Kristi for her wonderful personal customer service. I had a question and it was answered promptly and professionally.

Supplies
Stamps: Riley (Hanna Stamps), Heart Prints (PTI), In the Loop Alphabet (SU)
Ink: Palette Noir
Paper: Kitchen (Amuse), White, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Stardust Gel Pen, White Gel Pen, Threading Water Punch, Nestabilities, Word Window Punch, Copics, Silver Thread, Heart Eyelets

Snow Fun

On Monday night after Mitch and I went to bed we heard a thump against the upstairs bathroom window followed soon after by a similar thump on the patio door downstairs. Mitch decided to get up and check our mysterious thump. Mitch
called me downstairs to see his discovery, which was a tiny,
so cute, auburn colored owl. It was sitting on our back deck, rather stunned from hitting the windows I assume, in the snow. Absolutely gorgeous! He/she was a saw-whet owl, which is a pretty small owl about the size of a little soccer ball...a little bit larger than a softball. The photo is by Bob Jacksy from Northwest Ohio Nature. I wasn't quick enough to grab my camera and his photo is very similar to what our little friend looked like.

My other pic for today is a photo of Liam and Mitch sledding in all of the lovely snow we have gotten in the past few days. I am betting that I will have some more winter photos tomorrow given all of the snow we are getting from our current winter storm warning. My car is setting a bit wonky in the driveway because I couldn't make it up the driveway all the way. ;)

Happy Sledding!

Liam is starting to have fun.

Liam & Daddy after sledding.

A Glitter Challenge...

Anyone who knows me knows that I {heart} using glitter on my cards and projects, so when I saw the tacky glitter technique SCS challenge I had to try it! This gave me the opportunity to use some retired SU berry razzle glitter to go with my new fave Raspberry Fizz PTI cardstock as well as my heart-shaped nesties.

I have three (now two) different widths of tacky tape, which allowed me to really have some fun with this challenge even though I used simple straight lines. The main panel used berry razzle glitter and the base was edged in dazzling diamonds.

My main goal in this design (besides the obvious tacky glitter challenge) was to make a cookie that reminded me of my mom's Valentine frosted sugar cookies with cinnamon hearts. I am salivating just thinking about them. I sponged pink pirouette ink on the main heart and stamped hearts in Raspberry Fizz, then glazed the entire heart with crystal effects. I used the heart die to cut a piece of acetate to stamp the sentiment and layer to the heart.

Supplies
Stamps: Heart Sentiments (PTI); Birds, Trees and Messages ( Hero Arts)
Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Noir, Pink Pirouette, Stazon Black
Paper: White, Raspberry Fizz
Accessories: Transparency, Crystal Effects, Tacky Tape, Dazzling Diamonds, Berry Razzle

A Happy Heart

Just got this set from my most current stamp club order and I am totally loving it. I used up some scraps from a few projects that I am currently working on to make this card. I know there is a lot between now and Valentine's Day, but I couldn't resist.

This card is a gift to DH for everything that he has done for me in the past few weeks since my surgery. It was been so frustrating for me not being able to do as much as I would have liked. I spent all day working on this one just to get it the way I wanted it for him. It's never too soon to send a card to someone you love. ;)

A note...I used Crystal Effects on the heart, which was directly stamped on SU Whisper White and as it dried it crinkled and puckered quite a bit. I am thinking that a thicker cardstock would be much more benefincial when using this technique. Lesson learned. I have used it before on smaller items with no problem, but I assume it was the size of the area covered and the weight of the paper that played a role in the issue I had.

Supplies
Stamps: A Happy Heart (SU), Heart Prints (PTI)
Ink: Raspberry Fizz (PTI), Palette Noir
Paper: White, Raspberry Fizz
Assessories: Baubles, MS Punch, Cuttlebug Polka Dots, White Gel Pen, Crystal Effects, Spellbinders Tag and Scallop Circle, Sakura Stardust Gel Pen (Clear)

Quilting Color Challenge

I finally have been up to stamping since my sinus surgery on 12/18, which has really zapped me of energy and keeps me at the mercy of pain meds from time to time. I have, surprisingly, made it through three Christmas gatherings so far and will be having another today at our house.

This card took me a couple of hours to finish. There are a few factors that played into that 1) a toddler 2) getting into the flow of creating again 3) a SCS color challenge that I decided to use as my inspiration (toughest one I have done so far).

The colors stumped me right away. (Orchid Opulence, Cameo Coral, So Saffron) Honestly, I'm still not fond of the combo and don't know if I am that sold on the outcome. I made the colors softer by watercoloring the quilt squares, then coatings with UTEE.

Stamps: Quilter's Sampler Additions (PTI), Heart Prints (PTI)
Ink: Orchid Opulence, Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Palette Noir, Versamark
Paper: PTI White, Orchid Opulence, Cameo Coral
Accessories: UTEE, Perfect Pearls, Pearl Stickers, MS Border Punch, CB Embossing Folder Textile, Spellbinders Label and Tag, Velvet Pure Snow Ribbon

Angel Got a Face Lift

People get face lifts in order to improve their image, right. Some people tend to do it so much that they almost morph into completely different looking individuals. Well, my angel in the previous post got a face lift. This was a minor one...she didn't go under the knife. lol! I tend to like her better this way, but, of course, that's my opinion. If you liked her better the other way -- great --if you didn't like her at all -- that's nothing a face lift can change. ;) Must have been her personality. :P

She got a DP change, which changed the colors of Stickles I used, added whites dot outlines and left out the corner punch details. (I also used my Sakura Stardust Gel Pen to outline her main image and halo, but it didn't show on the photo.)

I think she's gonna be okay.

BTW, in the basket behind her are about 80 more of her little friends to go over and spread joy to others for Christmas.

Supplies
Stamps: Christmas Silhouettes (Inkadinkado), sentiment (PTI)
Ink: Palette Noir
Paper: Real Red, Kraft, Wassail DP (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Stickles (Xmas Red, Cinnamon, Lime, Gold), White Gel Pen, Sakura Stardust Gel Pen

More Fun With Silhouettes...

I bought all six of the Inkadinkado holiday sets as you have seen in previous posts. This is another card using one of those sets and will NOT be my last. They are terrific! I don't really like the use of the gel pen on the sentiment portion, but the rest of it turned out fairly well.

Supplies
Stamps: Christmas Silhouettes (Inkadinkado), sentiment (PTI)
Ink: Palette Noir
Paper: Real Red, Kraft, Figgy DP (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Stickles (Xmas Red)

Lovin' Stickles

This card really started as a more masculine option for a Christmas card until, that is, that I used about 1/2 bottle of Frosted Lace Stickles and a dot of Xmas Red.

Supplies
Stamps: Christmas Silhouettes (Inkadinkado), Winter Trails (Inkadinkado), sentiment (Martha Stewart)
Ink: Palette Noir, Versamark
Paper: Figgy (Basic Grey), Kraft, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Stickles (Xmas Red, Frosted Lace), Gold EP, Striped Ribbon

'Tis the Season

I need to start designing our Christmas cards...strike that...I need to start MAKING our Christmas cards! This is my first attempt for the season. I have had my new Nestability dies just waiting to be used put to work. Grabbed the Spellbinder snowflake dies at Hobby Lobby for...50% off! What a deal is that? I love these great Inkadinkado holiday/winter stamp sets. Gorgeous!


Supplies
Stamps: Winter Birds (Inkadinkado); sentiment (Martha Steward)
Ink: Palette Noir
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Kraft
Accessories: White Gel Pen, Nestabilities Label 1, Spellbinders Snowflakes, Rhinestones, Kraft Ribbon, Martha Steward Border Punch, Dazzling Diamonds