Water Colored Florets

I was working on a design for my friend Carmen's upcoming workshop. She had asked me to do a heat emboss technique so I thought I would combine it with water coloring with re-inkers. I stamped with my Stayz-On Black in and embossed with clear embossing powder. Then I outlined the embossed flowers and leaves with a bit of Sahara Sand to add a little depth, though you can't really see this in the photo. I really like the rich look I got using a color combination of Baja Breeze and Midnight Muse. I thought these ladies might like to try Baja Breeze and Sahara Sand in case they would like to add them to their collections before they are gone for good at the end of May. Later this week, I'll share a stepped up version of this card, as I have been working on making a variety of samples with this set.

Quick and Easy Banner Card

I haven't meant to be away from my blog for so long, but this is a busy time of year at work and though I've been able to squeeze in some time here and there to stamp, I have not found it so easy to find time to edit pictures and write blog posts!

This is a card I made for my teaching assistant a few weeks ago. We had a staff appreciation lunch during April Vacation week, and it's a tradition to write a note to people you supervise so hence this card. I had fun making it and used the new Designer Typeset Photopolymer Stamps to make the banner. I started by stamping the banner onto a piece of DSP from my Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Pack from the Spring Catalog. I then cut them apart and added a hand cut flag in between the banner pieces.



Next I splashed the Very Vanilla card base with Raspberry Ripple classic re-inker and my Aqua Painter brush. I finished it off by stamping the greeting in the lower corner - this is from my Made for You stamp set #126342.


This is such a versatile stamp set that has really been my go - to greeting set this past year. I will really miss it when it retires at the end of this month, though I'm sure I'll have little trouble finding something to replace it soon!


Well I'm off to get ready for our first family barbecue of the season. I hope you are enjoying this beautiful day!

A Shabby Chic Springtime Design

Hi Stampers! Wow - things have been pretty busy around here and as much as I have been trying to keep up with my blog, I have been having a hard time finding opportunities to stamp lately. It was quiet around here a couple days back so I took advantage and have a few things to share in the coming days!

Earlier this year, my daughter came across the best calendar that's full of amazing Shabby Chic photos, so I am putting it to work. I made a card using this month's picture:



Here's my card:



I created my own background by inking the flowers from Fabulous Florets in Daffodil Delight, and stamping them onto a scrap of Whisper White. Then I stamped the stem in Old Olive and popped on a few pieces of Flower Trim that I colored by rubbing them across my Daffodil Delight Ink Pad. I made a few layers using some DSP and a bit of Pool Party - so happy this color is not leaving us! - then put it all together onto a base of Primrose Petals.

I used my stash of Pool Party seam binding for the bow on this card, spritzing it with Stampin' Mist to shabby it up a little before adhering it to my card front. This stuff is yummy!



I don't usually stamp the inside of my cards, but it seemed to really fit this design so I added a teeny bit of stamping to the inside with some Daffodil Delight and Old Olive ink and markers. I hope you liked today's card, thanks for stopping by!

Remembering Patriots Day

I turned on the radio yesterday afternoon to hear there had been two explosions at the Boston Marathon. The first report I heard said they were thought to be electrical related, but as I changed the station, words can't even begin to describe the shock I felt as I then heard it had been two bombs. I've known many who have participated in this race as runners, and so many more that make it a day trip to go into the city.

Of course the Boston Marathon has been an event to watch around here for as long as I can remember, tuning in during the afternoon to see who will win. Also, having grown up so close to Concord, Lexington and Boston it's always invoked a feeling of pride to be so closely connected to the birth of our country. I love walking around those old paths, standing on the Old North Bridge, looking at the Lexington Green, and visiting the homes of the families who were so brave in those early days of our nation.

I am grateful that friends and family who were nearby when these explosions took place are safe and sound, but truly I'm at a loss to say much more about the events of yesterday, except the victims of this attack will be first and foremost in my mind today, and many more days to come.

Color Refresh

Stampin' Up! has announced a Color Refresh! I am so excited and thrilled to see that some of my favorites will be staying with us: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Island Indigo...a little disappointed that my absolute favorite - Lucky Limeade did not make this list but I think I can manage!

Things have been a little crazy at my house over the past week. We have had house guests and I haven't taken any time off of work so needless to say that I have had little time to make new cards to post. I'll share some from my upcoming clubs and stamp a stacks this weekend when things have settled down a bit.

Thanks for stopping by!