Just a note that this will be my last blog post. I love sharing the expressions of my heart and your feedback, both positive and negative, because it has pushed me out of my comfort zone and I've taken stamping risks (aren't those the best kind!) that I probably wouldn't have taken otherwise. You'll still see my creations but I'll be posting through Splitcoaststampers or Stampin' Addicts. And I will still be entering challenges as I am able.
Blogging has just become another "idol" to me and I've decided that I need to get my priorities back in line -- God first, family second and stamping third. So, with that said, I hope to cross paths with you as we check out all those other fabulous bloggers, stamp galleries, etc. Thank you so much for the times you visited my blog, for the comments you left, and for making me feel as if my cards and the creations I've shared were worth your time! God Bless!
Do you know Jesus? If not, drop me an email and let's chat!
You should see the large notebooks (three-inchers) that I have in my stamp room with sketches I've collected. I use them over and over when I need inspiration. Not long ago, there was a sketch challenge that I fell in love with and when I was creating my cards for the regional, I pulled out my book, found the sketch and grabbed the Twitterpated DSP. I included a technique I learned from one of the Workshop Wow DVDs while I was huffing and puffing on that dratted treadmill!
The basecard is Baja Breeze, but can you see how I embossed it? I was able to create a "mat" using four stacked pieces of the cardboard from the back of a DSP stack. You use it on the outside of the Elegant embossing folder to only get a portion of the embossing folder to work. LOVE THAT!
This is the Twitterpated DSP and my colors are Blushing Bride, Island Indigo and Pear Pizzazz, along with Baja Breeze. I used the Circle Scissors to cut my circles and wish there was a tool for squares, ovals and rectangles too! All stamped images are from the Field Flowers set.
Notice my three tiny pearls? I've stocked up just in case they wouldn't be in the new IBC when it debuts in June.
Someone asked me what a "calling hour" was. That is the time when you call on the family of the deceased person at the funeral home, generally the day before or the hours before the actual funeral and burial. Very difficult for everyone, but at least you let the family and friends know hwo much their loved meant in your life.
I'm sending box information today and am almost done. If I've missed you (and that is entirely possible!), please let me know and I'll get the information to you.
Off to do more laundry, more ironing and just be Happy Holly Homemaker! God Bless!
I had the good fortune to attend the Columbus Regional in February and made swap cards for a SUDSOL swap. One of my cards I loved...the other, not so much. But as I was exercising one day on the dreaded treadmill (I'd much rather be jumping around than confined to that treadmill, but it kicks my booty!), I watched the Workshop Wow DVD from last year's regionals. I couldn't believe all the things I had done maybe once and completely forgotten, as well as the things I never knew! If you can, get those DVD's -- great tools for some fabulous techniques and WOW! cards.
Here is a technique demonstrated I had never tried and will use quite a bit now that I'm aware of how to do it. This is bleach stamping with smooch spritz. Way cool!
No, the card isn't a WOW! and I wasn't thrilled with it, but the technique was cool. This is Peach Parfait cardstock and I used paper from the Piece of Cake Designer Series papers. I first ran the So Saffron (there's my color again!) cardstock through the Big Shot using the Flower Garden embossing folder and sponged some So Saffron ink on it to give it some "oomph". Then I liberally shimmered it with homemade shimmer spray.
Here is the technique. See those So Saffron spots on the Peach Parfait cardstock? That is the bleaching and although I couldn't get it to show in the photo (trust me here!), it sparkles! How? Pour some bleach onto paper towels in one of our wood mount stamp holders. Then spray some smooch (I used the Gold) in a few spots around the bleach. As you use this homemade stamp pad, be certain to get a portion of the stamp in the smooch spritz and it will not only bleach as you can see, but it gives it some sparkle. It's gorgeous IRL! I used the inside of one of the flowers from the Greenhouse Garden set (I use this particular stamp as fireworks and all sorts of things). I love the look. Hate the card -- I was not very inspired but I'm certain you can tell. Most of all, it was all about the technique and getting some color on the card.
So there you have it. My hubs came running into the stamp room when I was stamping these cards. He was concerned with the smell -- he didn't know you could use bleach as "ink". How did I know that this would bleach out to So Saffron? Didn't but I stepped out in faith. Call it a happy accident. Don't you love when that happens?
For those of you who have asked for the box dimensions, I'll send them tonight and tomorrow. I am off to clean -- the drudgery of it all. However, I love my home and I love how it looks when it is clean. Besides, I'm married to a man with OCD -- so much so that as one friend describes her hubs -- it should be called CDO so the letters are in order!
Happy Monday! God Bless!
I've been stamping, but let me give you an overview of the month thus far. In the past three weeks, we've been to four (count them!) four calling hours and three funerals. Work has been a real challenge and with this beautiful weather come my allergies. Work and the allergies are minor inconveniences, to go along with the crown that I'm going to have to have and all the medical tests that come along with being a cancer survivor who is turning 50! Happy Happy! Joy Joy! Do you see me doing the Snoopy Dance? "I am too blessed to be stressed," and that has become my mantra....
At any rate, the National Guard unit from our city has been deployed to Afghanistan. There is a group putting together care packages and I've been making cards for the packages to be sent. I finished those up this weekend and hope to get some pictures of some of the cards I did. But...today I stamped just for me and decided to take the challenge issued by Just Us Girls. The challenge was to create a card box with sentiments that the user could decide upon. I love this idea and since I regularly donate to auctions, I'm thinking I'll just keep making these so I have a few on hand. I can't wait to see what the others who take the challenge come up with so I can case their cards! Here's my entry...
Forgive me the poor photo quality. I took this picture when the sun peeked through the clouds and I was standing with my back to the windows in the sunroom. Can you see the reflection in the window sheet on my box?
The cards were created on Naturals Confetti card stock and I used a mask to create the oval. Anyone who has followed my blog for a while realizes that one of my favorite colors is So Saffron. I used a sponge to fill in the color inside my frame. Although you can't see it, prior to filling in the color, I stamped En Francais in Versamark. It doesn't work well on the Naturals cardstock, but is beautiful on our Whisper White or Very Vanilla.
You might recognize the stamp set, Just Believe. It was wildly popular when the IBC came out last July and I absolutely adore this set. I used my Old Olive and Rose Red markers to ink the stamp and couldn't pass up the opportunity to add some pearls to my flowers. I used the "greenery" stamp from the Just Believe on the Naturals Envelopes to tie this together.
There are six sentiments attached to a piece of So Saffron cardstock with temporary dotto adhesive. I've stamped the sentiments from Watercolor Trio (retired) because the fonts are beautiful. They include "From the Heart","Birthday Wishes" and "Thanks so Much", all stamped in Soft Suede on Natural cardstock. I stamped them, punched them out with the Large Oval Punch, and then matted them with Soft Suede. The other three sentiments are "With Sympathy," and "Happy Anniversary" from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set. All the cards and sentiments were liberally sprayed with homemade shimmer spray and they just glisten.
Just in case you wonder, the sentiments have two pop dots on the back of each and all the recipient needs to do is to pull off the adhesive and place them on the card. I would not have come up with this idea myself (DUH!) unless challenged to do so and I thank the Just Us Girls gals for issuing the challenge. If you've haven't ever seen the blog, you should check their work -- gorgeous!
And yes, I created the box, using a window sheet so the cards show through the oval in the window. I love those window sheets and have a ton of them -- thankfully I remembered to use them! If you'd like the dimensions, drop me an email and I'll be happy to send them to you. If I've created it, you know it has to be an easy project.....
Enjoy your day and the upcoming week! I'm hitting the half-century mark this week and am hoping to do some retail therapy on that day. Shopping always lifts my spirits.
God Bless and thanks for stopping by.
Isn't it? I mean the days are getting longer, the weather here in Ohio is getting warmer and I'm seeing bugs of all kinds! I had very limited time to stamp today and I desperately need to find some huge chunks of time -- I've made all kinds of committments I'm not going to meet if I don't get some serious stamping time. Remember those brownies that I told you were calling me? Well today, it isn't the brownies...it's that dratted ironing that is calling me. I swear the clothes multiply in the closet the longer I wait. So, unfortunately, instead of the rubber and I playing together tonight, I will be playing with my Rowenta....
I used the Freshly Made Sketches sketch challenge because I knew I could put something together in 10 minutes or less. And I need a card to send to my brother-in-law. I pulled out the DSP from the Piece of Cake package and found inspiration in the design. I know this is Poppy Parade but I see So Saffron circles and I love these colors together. Inspiration found!
The basecard is So Saffron and I layered on the DSP strip. When the new catalog came out last July, I wanted the Simply Soft Hostess set and finally remembered to order it. It saw ink for the first time today. I even had to mount it before I could use it -- yep, that is how badly I HAD TO HAVE IT! It's been a resident stamp for over four months with no ink -- my urges really do take over!
I inked this with Brown Staz-On ink and then colored it with my Poppy Parade and Old Olive inkpads, along with my blender pens. I love to watercolor this way. I used the Scallop Trim Border on the Whisper White panel (it's my favorite border trim). Instead of tying a ribbon, I used the Pear Pizzazz pleated ribbon and just adhered it top, bottom and middle with mini glue dots.
And, of course, I used my favorite sentiment. If this little sentiment ever disappears from my stamp room, there will be despair in my household!
This one will pass -- bright and cheerful and I'll be happy to send it off tomorrow. Enjoy your evening. Send good thoughts my way -- I need to stamp tomorrow -- I really need some serious stamp therapy unless, of course, I get a chance for retail therapy...hmmmmm....that might be just as good!
Thanks for stopping!
You know how it is when your fingers are itching to play in the ink and you can actually smell the rubber? It's like when there are brownies in the house and you know you can hear them actually calling to you..."Tami, come and eat us -- we are so fudgy and chewy!" Well, today was one of those days when I only had a few minutes to stamp and it's date night -- no stamping tonight!
I used the SUDSOL sketch (if you are a demo, you can check them out by clicking the link on my sidebar). This is a super easy sketch which I'm going to use to make lots of cards for the Prayer Committee this week. My favorite retired sentiment (praying for you) will fit so nicely in place of the sentiment I've used here. Check it out! It's a five minute card!
One of my new favorite colors, Calypso Coral, is the basecard. I've got a ton of the Sell-A-Bration paper (but you probably figured that one out, paper Ho that I am...) so I pulled out the corresponding colored DSP and cut a two-inch panel. I scalloped this with the Scallop Trim Border and pierced a line (it's rather difficult to see, but it is there as I love that piercing kit!). I wanted a bit of a color break so I added the 1/8" very vanilla taffetta ribbon.
Using the Modern Label Punch (or whatever it is called -- no time to check!), I punched out my sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes that I had stamped in Calypso Coral. I adhered it to the panel. Before I added the panel to the card, I knew it needed a bit of something so I pulled out Wedding Suite and used versamark ink to stamp some swirlyques in the left corners.
Now that's what I'm talking about! Quick, Easy and somewhat elegant -- just my style! Can I tell you how hard it was NOT to add a few small pearls to the upper left hand?
My brother-in-law has been diagnosed with Brain Cancer and I'm praying for a miracle. My sister-in-law is a dear woman whom I love so much. I know that she will face this with a smile on her face and although she will be grieving what is to come, I know that she walks with God daily and will be okay. It is still hard to watch people you love go through these things and I'm praying that God gives them all great courage, His perfect peace and the strength to pray about all the decisions they are going to have to be making. If you can spare a moment, say a prayer for them as well, please!
Have a great Tuesday! I'm hopeful I can find some stamping time tomorrow and share something, but we'll see what the day brings! God Bless!
....it's still very hard. My son was here from Friday through Monday and it still is hard for me to see him leave. He loves college -- would live there if they would let him and I suppose that is a good thing. Great student, hard worker and all that jazz -- but he's three hours away and isn't very good about communicating. His words, "If I don't call, that means everything is okay." Well...son...that just is hard for your dear mama!
I did find some stamping time while he was studying and created a card for the Late Night Stampers Color Challenge from last week. We were to use green on a card -- any choice. So, I looked once again to the stripe in the Twitterpated paper that debuted in the Spring Mini. Have you checked out those colors? Basic Gray, Riding Hood Red, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Blushing Bride and whatever else might be in there. Now...ask yourself who puts that cacophony of colors together and makes it look good? Why, Stampin' Up! of course! I combined the LNS challenge with The Sweet Stop sketch challenge.
I challenged myself to make a decent card with these colors because I would never put them together. Here it is!
I started with a basecard of Basic Gray. If there is one thing I love, it's a good stripe and this one is no exception. The entire card was inspired by this stripe.
I pulled out a panel of Lucky Limeade and then cut a piece of the stripe, matting it on the Basic Gray. Where to go from here? Riding Hood Red or Blushing Bride? Well, I don't use Riding Hood Red often enough and it is one of Francie's favorite colors so I chose it. I pulled out the Dotted Embossing Folder and ran my Riding Hood Red through the Big Shot. (How often do I make a card anymore that doesn't use the Big Shot? I might have to challenge myself that way to see if I can still make cards without using that machine!) I matted this on Basic Gray as well, and then layered my 1/8" white ribbon across the panel.
And there is where I was stumped. I rifled through that stamp closet several times before I found the Pursuit of Happiness stamp set and immediately found my inspiration. I stamped the sentiment on Whisper White in Island Indigo (after all, it's in the stripe!). I needed an image for the panel so I settled on the floral image from Just Believe, inking it with my Riding Hood Red and Lucky Limeade markers. And of course, it wouldn't be a Tami card unless there was some bling...so I added rhinestones to the flowers and to the side of the panel.
Ready for something awesome? My resident critic loved the card. Can you believe that? I'm not thrilled with it, but it isn't actually ugly. And I really love the sentiment. I believe that we choose each day whether we will be happy and live life to the fullest or we choose to let someone else own our day. In my mind, God is and all is well so I'm going to be happy -- content in the knowledge that God says He is with me...no matter where or what I'm going through...and I choose to believe He is. I hope you know that God is with you as well!
Enjoy your day and remember to choose to be happy -- for whatever reason -- and to count the myriad of blessings we all have! God Bless!
While checking the challenges that I was going to concentrate on this weekend, I really love the Less is More challenge this week. This particular challenge site really likes white space which forces me to seriously think. This week's challenge is to use neutrals and WOW! did this one inspire me. I've done two cards for this challenge and decided to post them today because I'm so happy with both of these cards. The first card was just what came to me when I read the challenge.
When using neutrals, my favorite color has to be Crumb Cake, hands down. I pulled out a sheet of cardstock and knew exactly where I was going with this card. My first step was to ink up En Francais in Crumb Cake ink and place it diagonally over my cardstock, pressing very lightly to just give some background but not really be able to tell what the words say. I re-inked the stamp and place the cardstock diagonally over the card in the other direction and very lightly pressed on different parts of the background stamp to place a bit more ink.
Next, I used the Flower Garden embossing folder upside down on the front of the card. I love this image, especially after using the side of a sponge and my Soft Suede inkpad to give this a bit of color, more definition and some POP!
Once I saw the card, it read "sympathy" to me so I used Petite Pairs to stamp the sympathy sentiment. Love it!
But I couldn't stop there! The Utah Divas International Sketch Challenge was a super easy sketch and immediately spoke to me. Since the other half of my Crumb Cake cardstock was still on my stamping desk, I picked it up, shimmered it with homemade shimmer spray and went to town.
Pulling out my scraps of Soft Suede (can you tell I love this particular color combo?), I embossed a piece with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. Once I had this embossed, I knew I wanted it to POP! so I pulled out the Smooch Pearlized Top Coat paint and painted the embossed parts of the cardstock. GORGEOUS! Once this was adhered to my card, I studied it to see what it spoke to me...and it said, "Anniversary". That's some smart cardstock!
I stamped my sentiment from A Word For You on textured Very Vanilla cardstock, matting it on Soft Suede and then Crumb Cake, and added it to my card with dimensionals. My final step was to add a rhinestone to the "i" in anniversary. Here's my final card.
I am donating cards to an upcoming auction and I know that these two will a part of my donation. I love them both, as does my resident critic, otherwise known as my hubs. He has a fabulous eye (he chose me, didn't he?) and I trust his wisdom.
I'm happy to say that I had major stamping time yesterday and I anticipate having some again today. LIFE IS GOOD!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Keep praying for those who were affected by the stormy weather in the MidWest -- they really need our prayers! God Bless!
I spoke in an earlier post of the youngest child of our friends who was entering the Navy. Well, he's in Chicago (IN THE WINTER!) and he's going through his basic training. This kid is such a fun and loveable kid that everyone adores him. A couple of weeks ago, his mom shared with us that he told her he had received his blue camo's and he thought he "looked pretty good in them." That is such a Max statement! And it made us laugh to hear that he was proud of himself in these camo's because he is such a humble child. They are such good parents and have raised two fabulous young men -- too bad I don't have a daughter I could match one of them up with -- either will make a terrific son-in-law! We were able to get Max's address and here is a card I made for him, using a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.
At first, I tried to create my own blue camo background. I failed miserably and it looked like someone vomitted blue "goop" all over the paper -- not quite the effect I was attempting. So, I pulled out my favorite blue color combination: Not Quite Navy and Baja Breeze. Using the Not Quite Navy stripe from the Patterns Pack of standard colors, I added this layer to a base card of Not Quite Navy. Because I wanted Max to smile when he sees this card, I pulled out Under the Stars again. The bear and I are bonding, seriously bonding, as I've used it twice in the past week and that makes three times I've used him total!
He was colored using blender pens and the Soft Suede and Early Espresso ink pads (squeeze the pads together, open them and use the ink from the lids with the blender pens). Because I like the hairs that stick out off of him, I didn't cut him close. I stamped "adorable" because Max is adorable in his own right and because I'm certain he does look adorable in those blue camo's! I punched this out with the Modern Label punch, matting it on Baja Breeze. I added the hemp twine and the brads and attached this to the bear with a dimensional.
I pierced a piece of Not Quite Navy top and bottom and pulled out my White Signo Gel Pen to add the faux-stitching. Once I matted this with Baja Breeze, I layered it over the striped paper. My final step was to add my bear with dimensionals. I wanted him to pop out and say, "Adorable!". Too bad I couldn't make him talk... On the card liner on the inside, I hand wrote, "...in those blue camo's!" He'll get the picture and I'm certain it will make him smile. I typed a message from my hubs and me (otherwise, he would never have been able to read it) and sent it off. I can't wait to see how much he has changed when he is able to come home in May. A big teddy bear to be certain...
If you get a chance, check out Freshly Made Sketches and their design team. I've found that I see so many cards and techniques, applications and the way people are using their stamps as inspiration when I take the time to check out some of these Design Teams. And sometimes, I sit and stare in awe...how do you get that good? This is something I aspire to and something you can only do when you stamp daily -- only practice gives improvement. So, I'm off to stamp something...anything...and I've got plenty of inspiration!
Have a blessed weekend and say a prayer for those who have been victims of the tornadoes in the Midwest!
...I devote at least one day a week to making cards for the church. I use whatever supplies I find that appeal to me when I'm stamping. The cards must be fairly flat (in other words, not many layers, if any at all) and they must be able to mail for one stamp. Here's the card for this week.
I saw a fabulous deal on white cardstock with envelopes. I think I bought 50 cards (plain but scored and folded) along with 50 envelopes for about $5. Since the church needs envelopes, for this deal, I knew I had to go with the buy.
While thumbing through all my fabulous papers, I found a paper package with colors that just popped out for me. I can make a ton of these cards because the paper is all in the package and I am using such small pieces. I have the solid color background and know that this will make people smile when they open it up and pull it from the envelope.
The "praying for you" is a retired SU sentiment. The bottom sentiment is not SU, but is from Philippians 4:7. Wouldn't you love to receive a card like this? When you open it, the committee members sign the card and let you know that they prayed specifically for you. We can all use more prayer, especially for us!
And let me tell you, this one takes less than five minutes. Yep, I re-inked the stamp pad so that the sentiment comes out darker, but didn't feel like running back upstairs to get one of the better stamped cards at the time I took the picture (color me LAZY!) -- the cards are all ready to be delivered on Sunday.
Enjoy your weekend and spend some time with God. You'll both feel better! See you on Monday!