Wild Rose Stamper

Lullaby Lane

 

See, I said I'd be back soon!  :) 

A sweet little baby card, one of my favorite kinds to make.  I love that little fairy on the turtle and had to cut it out of some Webster's Pages paper to use as a focal image.  Some buttons, Stickles, and crinkled seam binding finish it off.

I'm on a self-imposed (stamping related) spending freeze for a while and I'm trying to actually USE the things I've been "saving" for that special project.  Hence, all the buttons, gorgeous paper, and those little tags.  The tags are from a K&Company box of tiny tags I've had FOREVER.  Most of the tags have words on them I'd never use, but these worked out perfectly.  There's even a tiny green safety pin attaching the tags to the ribbon, another thing that's been languishing in a drawer.

Thanks for visiting!  I'll try not to stay away for too long, Lord willing.

Materials:

Stamps: Glitz Design (frame)

Paper: Neenah Solar white Classic Crest, Webster's Pages Lullaby Lane 6x6 pad

Ink: Antique Linen Distress for sponging, Certainly Celery

Accessories: Tim Holtz's Foam Ink Applicator, Martha Stewart punch around the page, buttons, K & Company tiny tags, Shabby Shutters Distress Stickles, Crystal Stickles, green tiny safety pin, crinkled seam binding

Sparkly Butterfly

 

I've had my Slice for almost a year but it's kinda been gathering dust.  That is, until I got the Hands-free mat as an early birthday present!  Wow, what a difference that makes for me, not having to exert pressure to hold the machine in place.

Don't you love that paper?  I've admired it in Michaels but held off because, well, I need more paper like I need another hole in my head.  BUT!  It was on SALE and my friend, Kathy, and I split the pad.  It was a little painful to cut all that paper in half right away, but I knew I'd never need three sheets of every pattern.

I cut out two butterflies and layered them.  The butterfly is edged in glass glitter and the shapes are sponged with inks on the edges.

Thanks so much for visiting!  It feels good to be blogging again.  :)

 

Materials:

Stamps: Frame (Technique Tuesday,) Polka Dots background (Papertrey Ink), sentiment (SU)

Paper: Sage Shadow, Ivory, Life's Journey (K&Co)

Ink: Versamark, Creamy Brown Chalk ink (Colorbox), Palette Hybrid Burnt Umber, Whisper White craft (SU)

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds embossing powder (SU), buttons, lace, sewing machine, sponge, Slice Machine, Vintage Findings Slice card, Fiskars pinking scissors, Diamond Dust glass glitter, ivory crochet thread

Remembering Grandad

I promised myself that today I would get this post done!  No more procrastinating.  Last week, my 89 yo grandad passed away after a short battle with colon cancer, so I wasn't up to posting.  Do you mind if I tell you a little bit about my Grandad?

Grandad was a quiet, but amazingly talented man who loved and was very proud of his family.  I think what I'll always remember about him is how he was always there for us.  If something needed to be fixed or built, he fixed it or built it.  It seems like he knew how to do everything, and could even do the entire crossword, in pen.  He had a beautiful tenor voice and sang in several churches on Sundays and in productions of the Messiah and other oratorios throughout his life.  I probably got much of my musical talent from him and it just broke his heart when I became too sick to play the piano anymore. 

My dad left us when I was 5, and I feel like my grandfather really filled in the gap.  I don't know if I ever told him that.  What I am most thankful for, however, is that Grandad received Jesus as his Savior two days before he died.  We prayed for his salvation for many, many years and I can't count the number of times I witnessed to him and my grandma, often with tears.  So, while I'm sad and will miss him a lot, mostly I'm relieved that his suffering is ended and rejoice that he's in Heaven and I will see him again someday!

Thanks for letting me share about Grandad.  He enjoyed seeing my creations and even indulged my addiction by building all my awesome stamp shelves and laying the floor in my stamp room, at age 85, no less.  He even signed up for addictedtorubberstamps.com's newsletter to get the latest sales and would buy things off my wish list for my birthday and Christmas.  :)  I am so blessed to have had such wonderful grandparents who loved me and would have done anything for me.  I'll leave you with a photo of me and Grandad together in the summer of 2008 (and Izzy, the chihuahua.)

Copics: R81, R83, R85, R39, G21

Materials:

Stamps: Impression-Obsession rose

Paper: Melissa Frances, white card stock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Pink Pirouette for sponging

Accessories: Martha Stewart punches, Tim Holtz Antique Linen Stickles, pearls, Copic markers, seam binding, Crystal Stickles, sewing machine

Sweet Peas

It seems like I've been on a big paper buying kick, lately!  (I'm not exactly sure why, since I like making my own backgrounds with stamps.)  Pretty paper is just too hard to resist, especially when it comes in a gorgeous box and I have a 40% off coupon!  Michaels has two different boxes full of 150 K&Co. papers.  I got the romantic one (I think it was called) and the other had more contemporary-style patterns.

Tall skinny images can be a little challenging for me, so when I see a card that has a great layout for such an image, I make sure to save it.  I found this card on Splitcoaststampers by Doodledop and knew it would be perfect!  Actually, this card started with a gorgeous iris image that I was watercoloring for my cousin, Rebekah's birthday, since the iris is her fave flower.  Unfortunately, just before it was almost done, I botched it up and couldn't do another, since I don't own the stamp.  So I hope Becky likes sweet peas!  ;)

All the shading around the flower is done with chalks and various sized sponges.  That square thing in the lower right corner is actually a silver brad with an "R" for Rebekah!  I just couldn't get a great photo of it.

Thanks for visiting!

Materials:
Stamps: Penny Black
Paper: Sage Shadow, ivory, K&Co designer paper
Ink: Antique Linen Distress ink, Sage Shadow, Mellow Moss, Lovely Lilac, Lavender Lace markers
Accessories: SU! chalks, Basic Grey chipboard, Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch, lace, ribbon, Sewing machine, Prima flowers, brad

Stitched Leaves

Well, the card that was supposed to take a few days got stretched into a week, as usual.  An unexpected trip to the doctor and then to Michaels delayed this blog post a bit, but that's life, right?  I've been having the worst time sleeping and my Sonata just isn't cutting it anymore, so I went to the doctor last Monday for some help.  I had to see the NP instead of my doctor, who was on vacation, and it was not a good experience.  So I needed some retail therapy and actually felt well enough to go to Michaels on Thursday.  :)  I had a great time with my friend Kathy and spent way too long there.  We had to look at every single new stamp, of course, and it's a good thing there wasn't a sale, or I would have bought too many!  I had a good time at the dollar bin, too.  (If Michaels can make money on the dollar bin, then why is everything else in the store so much more expensive?)

On to the card!  It's all stamped, no designer paper at all!  I used only two stamps, both from Cornish Heritage Farms.  I think the Leaves backgrounder is my new favorite; I just want to use it on every card!  Anyway, the whole card started with the flower because I was admiring some of the embellishments in an online scrapbook store but was turned off by the prices, so decided to pull out some punches and Cuttlebug dies and make some of my own.  This flower was one of my better attempts and I think it turned out pretty cute.

Thanks for visiting!

Materials:
Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms Leaves 3 and Scrapblock Music
Paper: Real Red, Naturals Ivory, misc. ivory
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Antique Linen Distress Ink
Accessories: SU Mini Library clips, flower punch, Cuttlebug die, buttons, black embroidery floss, sewing machine, Fiskars Threading Waters border punch

Lilies of the Valley

This card has a lot of steps to it!  I stamped the image twice on Certainly Celery card stock, the second time on just a scrap. I colored in the leaves of both stamped images with my Copics, and the flowers of just the first with the white gel pen.  Then I cut out just the bottom leaves of the scrap piece.  I stamped the lilies image again on cream cardstock and traced over the lines of the sign with my Copic gold glitter pen and then shaded a little with yellow chalks.  The leaves were also colored in, even though they would eventually be covered up.  I cut out just the bottom part of the image that included the "happiness" sign and the bottom two leaves.  This was then layered over my main image, then, over that, I layered the Certainly Celery scrap leaves with double-stick foam tape.  All this was to not only achieve dimension, but it also allowed me to have a cream colored sign without it looking weird.  Clear as mud?

Everthing else was pretty basic.  The main panel was layered to a cream panel that I sponged with Antique Linen Distress ink and trimmed with the Flourish punch.  I love how it reminds me of a Victorian calling card.

I made this card for my mom for her birthday, as Lilies of the Valley are May's birth flower, and she said it was her favorite card I'd ever made!  You just never know what someone is going to like!  But, it made all the hard work I'd put into this card worth it.  :)

Thanks for visiting!

Materials:
Stamps: Anna Griffin's Language of Flowers by All Night Media
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black
Paper: Certainly Celery, Neenah Solar White Classic Crest, cream
Accessories: Copics, White Gel pen, silk flower, adhesive half pearls, chalks, lace, gold cord, Martha Stewart Flourish border punch, Tim Holtz Distress ink Linen, Cuttlebug embossing folder Textile, Prismacolor colored pencils

Sparkly Snowflakes

I'm addicted to these cool layered snowflakes, a la Anna Wight!  She's such a trendsetter!  The gluing and glittering takes a little longer than I usually enjoy, but they end up looking so darn cool, that it's all right.

Did you see the newest Stampin' UP! catalog that debuted on Monday?  There's some really nice stuff in there and here's a list of my favorites:

Thoughts and Prayers stamp set

Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set

Bella Bleu designer paper

Fleurettes

SU Texturz Plates

Corduroy Buttons

I'll be waiting to put in my order on February 1, the first day of Sale-a-bration.  I don't have a SU demonstrator website but, if you want to place an order with me, just email me any time.  I'd like to have a SU website, but the cost just isn't price-effective for me, just being a hobby demo.  Also, using Typepad gives me the freedom to use stamps from lots of different companies.  I'm a believer in equal opportunity stamping!  ;)

Thanks for visiting!

Materials:
Stamps: Crafty Secrets Vintage Christmas
Ink: Real Red, Close to Cocoa
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Whisper White, Neenah Solar White Classic Crest
Accessories: Hemp twine, Marvy Snowflake Punches, ivory button, Twinkling Diamond Dust, ribbon from Michaels' ribbon kit, Martha Stewart Doily Punch

Autumn Birds

I was very moved by this post by my blogging friend, Asela Hopkins.   The America ideals of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, self-sufficiency, and taking pride in your work seem to be slipping away, but if everyone was as conscientious as Asela's immigrant parents, this country would be a much better place.

This paper by Daisy D's is quite possibly my favorite ever and I've been hoarding it for about two years!  It's so warm and rich looking, perfect for fall.  Also perfect for fall are these two bird stamps, from the retired SU set, Feathered Hope.

I used my Copic markers to color both stamped images.  For the first card, I used numbers E33, E57, R02, R27, Y38, YG23, B000, B21.  The sentiment is stamped on the twill with Black Staz-on ink.

   For the second card, I used B24, B21, V12, YR04, Y38, R02, E02, YG00, E00, E11, E08.  The sponging around the image was done with More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, and Close to Cocoa.  The second card uses the sketch challenge from Splitcoaststampers SC199.

ETA: The top card measures 5 x 7 inches.  The bottom card measures 4.5 x 6.25 inches.

Materials:

First Card:

Stamps: Feathered Hope, Hero Arts

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa, Neenah Solar White classic crest, Daisy D's dp, DCWV dp

Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Staz-on Jet Black

Accessories: Copic Markers, lace, twill, Making Memories brads, Prima leaves, baby rick rack, Nestabilities Classic Small and Large square dies

Second Card:

Stamps: Feathered Hope

Paper: Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa, Neenah Solar White Classic Crest, DCWV, Daisy D's

Ink: More Mustard, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Copic Markers, Lace, Prima Got Flowers, button, thread, Nestabilities Rectangle Classic and Scalloped dies, Liquid Pearls

Moonlit Leaves

I have to confess, this card is a little outside of my comfort zone.  Many of you are probably familiar with Michelle Zindorf's beautiful work with brayer and ink, and she inspired me to get back to my stamping basics.  I pulled out something that hasn't seen the light of day for a while: embossing powder! 

The leaves come from an acrylic Inkadinkdado set, which I had to buy thanks to Michelle!  (seriously, she should get a commission from the stamp companies on all the sets that sell because of her blog!)  I sponged the card stock with a pale yellow, then punched a circle from a post-it note and sponged a darker mustard around the post-it.  I removed the post-it circle and stamped the leaves with Chocolate Chip and embossed with clear embossing powder, first inking the stamp with Versamark, then CC on top of that so the embossing powder would stick.

I then inked inside and around the leaves with More Mustard and Really Rust.  The rest of the card was sponged with Close to Cocoa and Chocolate Chip ink.  The sides were distressed with my tool from the SU cutter kit.  I punched out my maple leaves from card stock and sponged them a little with ink to make them more dimensional.  I don't know if you can see it, but the leaves are sparkly with my Sakura glitter pen.  The corner is from a Cuttlebug die set, while the gem stone stickers are by Hero Arts.

I'm not really a Halloween enthusiast, but the card needed something and that little Happy Halloween sentiment fit in perfectly, so I went with it.

Hope you like it!  I'm going to Hobby Lobby for the first time on Tuesday!  It's new to our area and for years I've been listening with envy (the green kind!)  to stampers on Splitcoaststampers who get all kinds of great deals there.  It'll be fun to see some merchandise different from Michaels and Joanns.  What's your favorite thing to get at Hobby Lobby?  I hope this one has Cosmo Cricket, Melissa Frances, and Basic Grey paper.  What are the chances of that?  lol!

Materials:

Stamps: Inkadinkado acrylic set, SU All Holidays

Inks: So Saffron, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Really Rust, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Paper: Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Word Window Punch, circle punch, distressing tool, clear embossing powder, Cuttlebug, corner die, gemstone stickers, maple leaf punch (marvy)