A Stamper's Confession

So, how many of you purchase stamps/stamp sets and let them set for, oh, say a year, then pull them out for the first time? I, shamefully, have with this stamp set. I was intrigued by the samples posted on SCS last fall and "had" to have the set. After one long year and a color challenge I am posting my first sample of this retired set!

One thing I was happy to conquer in the card was doing a 5X5 card and using a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the majority of the background. I wish they came in squares!

Supplies:

Stamps: Gives Thanks (SU)
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Going Grey, Charcoal Palette, Green Galore
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Going Grey, White, Sweetie Pie DP (Cosmo Cricket)
Accessories: White Gel Pen, Sakura Stardust Gel Pen, Aquapainter, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Leaves, Filigree Brads, Nestabilities

Adventures in Scrapbooking...

If you're a cardmaker do you ever have people referring to you as a "scrapbooker"? What is that all about? Do they automatically assume since you work with stamps and paper that you are a scrapbooker? When people try to make conversation about my hobby, they shoot right to the first person who they know who scrapbooks. Right...like I had a single page done anywhere in my house. I know it is simply their way of making a relationship to what I do but I get it ALL the time. For the past four years I have been trying to force myself to scrapbook. What was it that I disliked so much? The format, the idea of organizing it all...a little of both I suppose.

For the sake of preserving our family memories, I decided to take the bull by the horns and just do it. To be honest, I have been noodling around with scrapbooking for a couple of years with no results that I was proud enough to post . I joined a scrapbook goal challenge at SCS with a goal of finishing 10 scrapbook pages in the month of September in order to spend $3o in fun papercrafting supplies. Fortunately, I have already met my goal for the month, but unfortunately I spent $14 on supplies before I was done and am back at zero. I suppose that could be a positive motivator to really dive into those photos for another 10 pages.

My scrapbook pages are very basic. Almost utilitarian. I am sure with time I will implement more intricate designs and use better sketches. Right now I am simply giving it a go. I can't say that I dislike but I don't know if I love it. The verdict is out.

This simple page is an 8X8 of my son's cousins, which was taken this summer while I was in grad school. Additional pages can be found in scrapbook album at SCS.

With Enough Caffeine...

...anything is possible!! As many of you know I do love my cup o'joe whenever I can get one. My mom got me this great one cup coffeemaker from Melitta and it is awesome! (Mitch is not a coffee drinker.) Grid 2 TBSP of my bean of choice, heat up water in my electric kettle and pour the water over the grounds in the groovy filter that fits over a coffee cup or travel mug. I'm spoiled!

Speaking of my mom, if you check a few posts back I mentioned swiping mom's Bella stamps...well, I did! Here is Javabellas in SCS Sketch Challenge 192. The only thing I don't like about this stamp are the shoes on the bella on the left. Seriously, who wears shoes like that? Guess I'm not that cool!

This is one of my first cards using a sewing machine. I enjoyed the experience and outcome and plan on using it much more frequently. The zigzag stitch is not very apparent in this photo but it is there. I also went a little nuts with the white gel pen and dots. :)

Supplies
Stamps: JavaBella; Sentiment (Amuse)
Ink:Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel; Close to Cocoa; Blush Blossom; Certainly Celery; Burnt Umber (Palette); Noir (Palette)
Paper: Sultry DP (Basic Grey); White (PTI); Chocolate Chip
Accessories: White Gel Pen; Chocolate RIbbon, Sakura Stardust Gel Pen; Slot Punch; Corner Rounder Punch; Nestabilities; Sewing Machine

Quilter's Sampler

I fell in love with this set after seeing the many beautiful cards created with it. And not to mention reading the book The Quilter's Apprentice. I totally love that book and am going to check out the library for other books in the series. After reading it you feel the need to quilt as a way to tell the stories of your life. I hope to be able to do that through the photos I take of my family and the cards and scrapbook pages that I make. I have huge reservations about beginning a new hobby. (i.e cost, time commitment, all the other craft supplies I HAD to have...)

If this stamp set is the closest that I ever come to quilting then so be it. I loved working with this set and hope to get better aligning the squares...I know...get the grid.

I did a bit of experimenting today with my background stamp and found that I LOVE using my plumber's gasket, which I use with my Cuttlebug to put over the stamp (face up) and cardstock and brayer over top. No slipping like paper and I haven't had a smudge yet!


Stamps: Quilter's Sampler (PTI), Linen (SU)
Ink: Ruby Red, Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa, Palette Burnt Umber, Stazon Black
Paper: Ruby Red, Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa, White
Accessories: Paper piercer, Nestabilities, Acetate

Dare to Be Fabulous

Can a bride-to-be "dare to be fabulous"? I don't know, but I thought I would go non-traditional. She loves all things pink as I found out when I went to Sur La Table to pick up a shower gift. She had registered for pink sparkly spatulas and a pink whistling tea kettle. I have to say I found several things at Sur La Table that I would love too!! I resisted. Good me.

Ok, I can do the sparkly that's for sure! Although, I couldn't do the graduation of pinks I was hoping to do. I am out of my favorite Regal Rose paper. :(

Supplies
Stamps: Fabulous Flowers
Ink: Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Palette Charcoal
Paper: Basic Gray, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Accessories: Sakura Stardust Gel Pen Clear, Rhinestones, Brads, Square Punch

Big Upload

I have a few cards to share today. They were not all done on the same day, however this is the first time I have had the chance to upload them. One is for an old SCS color challenge, one using my new Amuse stamps and the newest addition is a card showcasing the most current SCS sketch challenge. Speaking of new stamps and supplies, I am going to try to post a pic of all of the goodies I have gotten in the past couple of weeks. I had a huge eBay auction and liquidated lots of stamps and supplies that have been untouched and collecting dust for way too long. I love fresh eBay $$$!

Country Cupcakes
For SCS sketch challenge 184. All of the cupkcakes are outlined with my Sakura Stardust Clear Pen, which is hard to see in the photo. I also tried my hand at some doodling with my Close to Cocoa marker.

Supplies
Stamps: Cupcakes (Inkadinkado), Here's the Scoop (My Favorite Things)
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Palette Noir, Pretty in Pink, Creamy Caramel, So Saffron
Paper: Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Creamy Caramel, Sugared (Basic Grey)
Assessories: Bling, Sakura Stardust Gel Pen, Flowers (Joann's)

Tiny Bees

Wow! When I got this stamp the bee was indeed "tiny", so I wasn't sure how to make a whole card dedicated to this little guy. Here was my best first try!

Supplies
Stamps: Tiny Bee & Have a Bee-utiful Day (A Muse)
Ink: Soft Sky, Palette Noir, Yo-Yo Yellow
Paper: Kitchen (Amuse), Soft Sky, White (PTI)
Accessories: Gem Flowers, Dazzling Diamonds

Butterfly Colors

I made this awhile back and sent it to my aunt for her birthday. It was a take on SCS color challenge 170. I wasn't keen on the So Saffron layer, but it's all part of experimentation I guess.


Supplies
Stamps: Butterfly Kisses (PTI)
Ink: Real Red, Regal Rose, Palette Noir
Paper: So Saffron, Real Red, Regal Rose, White
Accessories: Bling, Ribbon, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Thread Water Punch, Ticket Punch, Sakura Stardust Gel Pen Clear

Comsobella for Anabell(a)

Hopefully Anabelle doesn't check my blog before she gets her card in the mail. lol!

I have had this Bella stamp for about six months. She has been tucked away in my "basket o'things to use" and never managed to make it to the top until recently. I am wishing that I would have gotten her out sooner. When I ordered her I also ordered a couple of bellas for my mom, which I will be commandeering over the July 4th weekend whilst at their BBQ. Sneaky!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Cosmobella (Stamping Bella)
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Creamy Caramel, Palette Noir, Blush Blossom
Paper: Sultry (BAsic Grey), Old Olive, River Rock, White
Accessories: Bling, Dazzling Diamonds, Label, River Rock Stitched Grosgrain, Slot Punch

My First Blog Contest Win

I am so excited! I decided on a whim this week to go blog hopping. Seriously, I spent waaaay too much time on blogs. I eventually landed on Kittie Caracciolo's blog Kittie Kraft where she was having a contest for the release of her new stamps (Kittie Kits "Cause a Scene") at Rubbernecker Stamps. If you haven't seen Kittie's work you really should take the time to swing on by her blog where there is also a link to her SCS gallery. I posted a comment on her blog and won my first contest on the blogosphere. It took no skill, but I hope some day to win a contest based on my creative skills. We'll see! I have a lot more practicing to do before that happens! Thanks again, Kittie! Now...what to buy at Rubbernecker with my gift certificate!!!!

Father Knows Best

I suppose that is debatable, but at least my father and my son's father are both pretty amazing people. Mitch is a terrific dad and has loved the job from day one. I made his this card and a 6X6 book with pics of he and Liam in the past year, which matches the card using the same color scheme and DP.


Supplies
Stamps: Father Knows Best (PTI)
Ink: Soft Sky, Basic Gray, Palette Noir, Charcoal, Burnt Umber
Paper: River Rock, Soft Sky, Very Vanilla, Basic Gray, DP
Accessories: Screw Brads (Spare Parts), Ribbon, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug (Diamonds in the Rough)

Here's a pic of father and son!

Strawberry Blossoms

I started on this card for the CC170 challenge around 9:30 this morning. It only took me seven hours! Impressed? lol! Moms of toddlers know exactly what I am saying. ;) Had to try out my new Nestabilities, teardrops and Tart and Tangy set!


Supplies:
Stamps: Tart and Tangy (SU), Garden of Life (PTI)
Ink: Real Red, Garden Green, Palette Noir
Paper: PTI White, Real Red, Regal Rose, So Saffron
Accessories: Teardrops (Robin's Nest), Pewter Brads, Flower Punch, Black Gingham, Nestabilities

Inspiration Challenge

I will definitely be checking out the inspiration challenges more this summer! I don't know that I did it justice, but had some terrific ideas for other projects. As a matter of fact, the final card was nothing like what I had started out with in the beginning. I couldn't believe how my interpretation of the challenge morphed as I created.


Supplies
Stamps: Garden of Life (PTI)
Ink: Cameo Coral, Regal Rose, Purely Pomegranate, Palette Noir
Paper: PTI White, Cameo Coral, Soft Sky
Accessories: Teardrops (Robin's Nest), Ribbon, Sakura Stardust Gel Pen, Cuttlebug Birds & Swirls, Swiss Dots

SCS Challenges

Love'em! The disappointing thing is that I haven't done one in almost a YEAR! Color challenge CC168 and sketch challenge SC178. Honestly, I wasn't much inspired by either one but it could be, too, that I haven't been stamping consistently for several months. I'm pretty rusty.

This is a typical 4.25 X 5.5. The background on the Sage Shadow was stamped using Basic Brown with the Tres Chic BG stamp, then layered onto Chocolate Chip and a Very Vanilla base. Using the Marvy scallop punches, I punched the square out of Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla. The vanilla square was stamped with the swirl from Priceless using Basic Brown. The chocolate square is dotted using my fave Sakura Stardust Clear Gel Pen. The butterfly from Priceless was stamped on vanilla in sage shadow, cut and adhered to the vanilla square. I dyed a piece of white grosgrain ribbon using my sage shadow classic spot and wrapped around a piece of chocolate punch with my new threading water punch by Fiskars, again dotted with the clear gel pen. The flowers were cut using a Cuttlebug die with a pearl brad in the center. The three flowers are centered around the word "imagine". Oh, and some DD on the butterfly, too. ;)

Supplies
Stamps: Tres Chic, Priceless
Ink: Basic Brown, Sage Shadow
Paper: Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Sakura Stardust Clear Gel Pen, Scallop Punch, Cuttlebug, Pearl Brads, White Grosgrain, Threading Water Punch, Dazzling Diamonds

Groovy Garden

I wish I would have saved the link to the card I commented on this afternoon which used groovy guava and copper. Love that color combo. She did an awesome job. Inspired me!

I haven't stamped a serious design in a few months. A few birthdays here and there, but nothing that was a "creative process", KWIM? This was finally it. I am happy with it considering my one year old was pulling EVERYTHING out in my craft room while I was working...punches, stamps, scraps, stamp pads, etc.

The card is 5.5 X 5.5. The main image was stamped in Versamark and embossed with copper EP. I used sponges and ink to shade the main image, then cut it out and did a bit more shading on the edges. I used my new treading water punch on the copper CS and layered some fun ribbon on top of it. I cut the backs off of the brads and used Zot Dots to adhere them to the project. I have found that if you want brads straight, don't punch holes. lol. My weird method. ;) The main image was adhered using dimensional adhesive. Almost forgot...I added some yellow/gold to the center of the flower using my Sakura Stardust gel pen.

Supplies
Stamps: From the Garden (SU)
Ink: Versamark, Groovy Guava, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Handsome Hunter, Old Olive, Always Artichoke
Paper: Copper CS, Glossy White, Very Vanilla, Basic Grey DP, Old Olive
Accessories: Copper EP, Rose Ribbon, Pearl Brads ( Archiver's), Sponges, Sakura Stardust Gel Pen

Trashing a Wedding Invitation!

I love doing this sooo much. I hope the bride and groom don't hate me too much for scrapping their beautiful wedding invitation and using it for "parts". lol! I have only done it a couple of times but I consider it a form of flattery. Seriously, any invitation, no matter how tacky, has parts to be salvaged, right? Honestly, this was a beautiful invitation with dry embossed fine stems and flowers as well as a gorgeous pearlescent strip, which I HAD to use. If I remember next time I will take "before" and "after" pictures.

Supplies
Stamps: Illuminations (SU)
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Whisper White, Almost Amethyst, Metallic
Accessories: Wedding Invitation, half pearls and rhinestones, silver fine embossing powder

Ruff Day

All three of us have been sick with colds and sinus infections since Tuesday. Yucko! Last night I was beginning to feel better, so I thought I would create something with the new goodies I got during spring break. This set i purchased at 40% off from Joann's. I am always looking for good dog sets and never seem to find anything I like, although I love Whipper Snapper stamps animals. I would love to get some! Hint! Hint! (In case DH is reading my blog.)

One thing I am proud of with this one...I have been getting into my stash of cute embellishments that I have been hording for WAY too long!! Love the paw charm!

Supplies
Stamps: Dogs (Inkadinkado)
Ink: Versamagic - Jumbo Java, Sahara Sand
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Cream Confetti, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Charm, Chocolate Ribbon, Cuttlebug Bubbles, Acrylic Block (for stamps & distressing the edges of CS)