You Choose

explanation for absence.  

a.  no mojo

b.  not enough time

c.  missing that "one" essential supply

d.  new job

e.  beautiful weather

f.  poor quality of stamping

g.  planning a bounty of posts

h.  won the lottery

i.  got a dog

j.  training for a triathlon

k.  running for congress

l.  watching Housewives

m.  starting my own stamp company

n.  trying decide which black ink to use

o.  learning Japanese

p.  walking the appalachian trail

q.  baking the perfect buche noel

r.  organizing my twine

s.  wrapping Christmas presents

t.  cotton candy

u.  hoeing

v.  thinking

w.  bad weather

x.  making believe I watch cool things like Breaking Bad

y.  FB

z.  writing praise letters to congress

Just Saying

Goodbye.

Our son is moving this week.  He graduated from college this year and managed to get a real job, with benefits and all that.  We are proud of him.  Very.

But I am one unhappy mama at the thought of him being half way across the country (Texas!).  I'm determined to fake it when I say goodbye.   I made this card to send to him.

2013 will be a year to remember, that's for sure...

On another note, I'm loving Neat and Tangled Stamps. Some great designs, fast service and they threw in some free sequins.  Just a (paying) customer spreading the love....

MOOD WHEN DONE = Missing him already

Supplies:

Stamps:  Neat and Tangled Just Hello and Stampin Up Tape It.
Ink:  Hero Arts Neon Green and Ranger Archival Black
Paper:  Neenah Solar White
Other:  Twine, Ranger's Glossy Accents (to adhere the twine), paper trimmer

Named Note Cards

I pretty much want $7000 worth of Clear and Simple stamps.  However, since that seems a tad excessive, I settled for a couple of sets, including Writer's Desk.

I had a million ideas on how to use this set when I bought it, but this idea was not one of them. However, these old typewriter letters just begged to be used.  Rather than make an envelope liner, I added just a little message (literally) to the back of the envelope.

But wait . . .

How I Made These:

1.  Trimmed 8 panels of white cardstock -- 4 of 4.25 x 5.5 and 4 of 3.75 x 5.
2.  Using markers, stamped my name in 4 different colors on the smaller cardstock pieces, and then ran the marker along the sides of these pieces in the same color.
3.  Adhered to the larger white base.
4.  Stamped a note on the back of the envelopes using the same markers.

Tip:  I set up the letters on the block rather than try and stamp each letter one at a time.  This gives a uniform appearance when making a set of cards and eliminates the random error.  It took about 8 tries to get the letters exactly where I wanted on the block.   That's what scrap paper is for.

MOOD WHEN DONE = Pleased x 4

Supplies:

Stamps:  Clear and Simple Writer's Desk
Paper:  Neenah Solar White
Ink:  Faber-Castell Pitt Big Brush Pens
Other:  Acrylic Block, glue, paper trimmer, Paper Source envelopes

Monogrammed

A summery lime,  just to give a bow to the soon departing summer. . .

How I Made This Card:

1.  Cut and scored A Muse Studio card stock into an A2 card, setting aside the remaining half sheet to cut the monogram letters and the envelope liner.  This cardstock is white on the other side, so no need to line the inside of the card with white.

2.  Stamped white stripes and embossed in white.

3.  Cut out initials with Silhouette.

4.  Adhered initials to form my monogram on card.

5.  Stamped screen image onto card stock with white ink.  Because I did not emboss, however, the white ink is more pale and the look more subtle.

6.  Die cut envelope liner and adhered to white envelope.

Tips:

1.  Stamp the stripes so your eye goes from the top left to the bottom right.  This is consistent with the way we read.
2.  You'll get a crisper set of stripes if you use Versamark, rather than a white ink, before you emboss.

And since I liked the first card ....

MOOD WHEN DONE = Freaking Out.  After 36 years, Friday was my last day as a lawyer. I start a new job on Monday.  (Same agency, different office).  Apparently, I like change!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Impression Obsession Diagonal Lines and Screen Cover a Card
Ink:  Hero Arts Unicorn and Versamark (Versamark on the lime)
Card Stock:  A Muse Studio
Other:  Silhouette, paper trimmer, glue pen, Paper Source White embossing powder, heat gun, Clear and Simple Stamps A2 envelope liner, Paper Source envelope, double sided tape

Gift Set

Here's a pretty set of 8 monogrammed flat note cards and coordinating envelopes.

I love how these came out -- the scalloped base and the large lower case embossed monogram look great together.

And here's a few pictures and "talk" to describe the process I used.

1.  Opened up a Blossom Paper Source envelope so that I would have thinner paper for the monograms. 
2.  Stamped the "n" monogram in Versamark, embossed with Paper Source white embossing powder and die cut.  Found this wood mounted stamp at Paper Source (yes, I am a 5 minute walk away....).
3.  Stamped typing paper with Impression Obsession Diagonal Stripes in Versamagic Pixie Dust (perfect match with the Blossom line).
4.  Put it all together using these Blossom A2scalloped flat note cards from Paper Source and matching envelopes.  Those pre cut scalloped flat cards come in a lot of beautiful colors.
5.  Thinking about how to package these....

MOOD WHEN DONE = Stylish

Supplies:

Stamps:  Paper Source Old Claude "n", Impression Obsession Diagonal Lines Cover a Card
Paper:  Paper Source White and Blossom
Ink:  Versamagic Pixie Dust, Versamark
Other:  Paper Source White Embossing Powder, Sizzix Circle Die, Clear and Simple Stamps A2 envelope liner die, adhesive, paper trimmer