Sep 30, 2015

Waltzingmouse Rustic Christmas


Waltzingmouse always makes the most gorgeous Christmas sets, and this year is no exception.  They recently issued two new sets, Rustic Christmas and Scandi Doodle Christmas, which I bought immediately.  Love images that have built in sentiments. 

While they are not yet stocked in the US, there is a code to get the equivalent of the cost of US shipping.  Mine came in less than a week!

And do we love this background paper, which is tissue paper I found half price (.75) at Target?  Yes, I think we do.   It also comes with 2 sheets of copper tissue paper.

I adhered it to cardstock with Mono Multi glue and, while still wet, die cut. Going through the Big Shot flattened out the paper and glue.  If I wasn't married, I swear I'd marry my Big Shot.


Supplies:
MOOD WHEN DONE = Awesome!!

***

Chapter Two of How Stamping Destroyed My Life will be published on Sunday, October 4th, unless Hurricane Joachin hits us and we lose power.  Aack.

Sep 29, 2015

Just Dandy Studio: Dandy Mail #1 -- Little Pumpkin Kit


My Just Dandy Studio post this week is all about Dandy Mail #1 -- Little Pumpkin, an adorable kit that is for sale for $12.  Every month Melissa will be offering a kit that will make it easy to produce some cute packaging and other items.  Here is what comes in the October kit:




I love that card.  I only need a couple of Halloween cards this year, so I'll use this one and the coordinating envelope for one of them.

Here's a closer look at some of the details of my projects. 


Three gifts for three folks, including the adorable little girl (Sam) in my neighborhood.

Supplies:
  • Just Dandy Studio Dandy Mail #1 -- Little Pumpkin Kit
  • Teal tissue paper that wrapped my Just Dandy Studio order.   
  • Just Dandy Studio orange and turquoise tiny pom pom trim 
  • Just Dandy Studio Happy Stripes wrapping paper. 
  • Glass jar from Michaels (a steal at .74!). 
  • Hero Arts circle stamp (stamped the doily)
  • Memento Angel Pink ink and Rose bud ink
  • Waltzingmouse Tag Die
  • Striped embossing folder
  • Adhesive
  • Sizzix circle die
  • Big Shot
  • Empty Crystal Light container
  • Chocolates!
  • Cookie! (for inside the packet)
  • Stampin Up Layered Alphabet 
MOOD WHEN DONE = Sweet!


Sep 27, 2015

Just Dandy Studio Happy Stripes



Hello, hope your Sunday is a happy one!   I'll be posting more Just Dandy Studio projects on Tuesday, but I wanted to share this card today.   I added Happy Stripes wrapping paper on the bottom of the card and used the same paper to die cut hello.   I love this paper!

I think this card is a good fit for Cath Edvalson's Tuesdays Take 4 Challenge. The inspiration photo for that challenge is


How I love these colors...

Supplies:
MOOD WHEN DONE:  Happy!



Sep 23, 2015

Stamping Destroyed My Life -- Chapter One

To read the Press Release Announcing Stamping Destroyed My Life
To read the Prologue to Stamping Destroyed My Life

Chapter One --  "It's Kind of Magical"

As soon as I saw her, I knew that she would become my very best friend.  We just had too much in common.  As she weaved her way through the parking lot towards Craft Stuffing, I picked up my pace, hoping for an excuse to introduce myself.

She wore jeans and a striped navy and white boat neck top just like I did.  Her dark bobbed hair shone in the sun, and she was wearing loafers, and I believe I caught a glimpse of pennies in them!  Pink socks.  Gah, we are almost twins.  Her husband had to be named Jack, the cooler version of my husband John.  No doubt she also had two kids.  

A beach house every summer.  Gossip over lemonade, while the boys pitch a tent in the backyard and catch fireflies.  Grown up talk while our girls giggle and dream the dreams that only best friends can dream.  I could see years of friendship, the kind where the wives, the kids, and the husbands also became friends.

She walked into Craft Stuffing and headed for the craft section.  Craft Stuffing is one of those stores that needs therapy to find itself.  The back of the store is a frame shop.  But to get there, you have to walk through enough junk to fill ten of Michele Hetland's craft rooms -- beads, poster paint, spirograph kits, fake flowers, and enough styrofoam to build an Ark.  Somewhere in this mess was poster board, which Garrett, my ten year old, needed for a science fair.  Science fairs, along with dioramas and spelling bees, are an absolute abomination.  Someone really needed to put an end to this nonsense but it wasn't going to be me, particularly since Garrett always wins! 

So there I was, heading for the poster board, when I decided to follow the woman.  I swear I am totally awesome, but for reasons that I will NEVER understand, I was a tad lonely.  John was a great husband, but he was out of town a lot.  My kids took up a lot of my time, but holy kabbaba! I wanted to gossip and talk and shop with a real friend and I just didn't have any.  The neighbors ignored my attempts to get together, and the other school moms were just strange.  They clumped together at back to school night, no doubt still believing that my signature Crazy Chicken Cashew Salad caused the food poisoning incident at last year's Spring Fling. 

But maybe this woman?  She walked into an aisle filled with jar after jar of brightly colored powders, lined up next to rows and rows of ink pads and wooden stamps.  Someone had taped what looked like hand made greeting cards to the top of the shelves. They weren't great, but they weren't horrible.

I stopped and noticed a book "The Beginners Guide To Rubber Stamping."  I could do this, I thought, as I leafed through. How hard can it be to press a stamp down on ink and paper?  Maybe I'll make our Christmas cards this year!   I'll show John that I really can save money.  And I'll ask the other school moms and make a party of it.  Hot chocolate, Christmas cookies.  I could do this.  It could make up for the Spring Fling.  

I just couldn't figure out a way to chat with My New Best Friend (MNBF) without seeming stalker weird, so I stopped in front of the jars of powders and asked a saleswoman what they were.

"They're embossing powder."
"Embossing powder?  What's that?", I asked.

Before the saleslady could respond, MNBF turned and said, "Hi, I couldn't help but overhear you.  Embossing powder is stuff you use to create raised images when stamping."

I must have looked puzzled, because the next thing I knew she turned away from the saleslady and whipped out a business card and handed it to me.


Then she continued, "You take a stamp, press it in this ink pad", holding up a pad labeled Versamark.  "The ink is sticky and the stamp will leave an sticky impression on the paper.  Poor the powder over it and shake it off and only the inked up image will have the gold powder on it.  Heat it up with this heat gun and the ink will shine and end up like this card.  It's kind of magical."

WOW!  I didn't understand a single word, but she was so friendly!

I asked her what to buy and she whispered to me that she was a "demo" and could show me how to do all of this and sell me everything I would need without having to buy a thing at Craft Stuffing.

"I'm holding a workshop tonight.  Why don't you come?  There are lots of women coming and it will be fun!!  Plus cookies.  And wine."

Sold.

I took her card, jotted down the address of the workshop, and told her I would be there.  After I got the poster board, I looked at Gina K's card and dreamed of being clever and crafty.  Would we rent a beach house together at the Cape or the Outer Banks?

This is how life happens. You go in for poster board and leave with a very best friend.

Next:  Chapter Two

One Layer Waltzingmouse Hello

Three flat, one layer, watercolored cards using Waltzingmouse Hello Happy Thanks (this awesome set is on sale....).


Supplies:
  • Waltzingmouse Hello Happy Thanks (link above)
  • Ranger Distress Stain Spiced Marmalade, Wilted Violet, and Abandoned Coral
  • Hero Arts Lemon Yellow Ink Dauber
  • Watercolor paper
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Big Shot (run folded watercolor card prior to inking through Big Shot to flatten.)
  • Craft Sheet (placed between folded card as I applied the daubers across the card.  This avoids getting ink all over by stamping surface and the interior of the card.)
MOOD WHEN DONE = Delighted.  Now it is time to clean up the mess I've created in my stamp zone and put away some new stuff.  

Sep 22, 2015

Just Dandy Studio: Petal Envelopes





Kraft Envelope

Die cut Just Dandy Studio wrapping paper with a twig die, which adds just a bit of color.  Love how it turned out!


Polka Dot Envelope

Love me some polka dots!  To make the shredded bow, cut narrow pieces of wrapping paper, gather, wrap with twine in the center, and curl the paper with the edge of a scissors.

The tag is a Just Dandy Studio sticker adhered to a square scrap of white cardstock with the corners rounded.  Love how everything matches.


Balloon Envelope

The balloon envelope is made with Just Dandy Studio wrapping paper. The belly band is a piece of striped Just Dandy Studio wrapping paper trimmed and placed under a vellum strip.  Another Just Dandy Studio sticker finishes off the band.



 Making a Petal Envelope

Google petal envelope and you'll find many ways.  I die cut 4 circles, scored a line down the center of each, folded, and then opened each circle.  I then adhered in an over under pattern.  So easy, as long as the circles are adhered properly.  I used the corner of a Scor-Buddy to align the circles to make sure I adhered them with a perfect right angle.  


There is a square piece of cardstock inside each envelope that is the same size as the diameter of one of the circles -- 4.25 inches.  That square piece finishes the inside and is a spot for a gift card, greeting, or even small jewelry.

Supplies for Kraft Envelope:
Supplies for Polka Dot Envelope:
Supplies for Balloon Envelope:
MOOD WHEN DONE =Anyone want to party?

Sep 20, 2015

Pineapple Packaging


Sweet and simple.

I've always loved pineapples.  Food, stationery, home decor, it's all good. Named after the pine cone because of the spikes and cone shape, they are a symbol of hospitality and in some instances, wealth.

I first noticed them as a colonial symbol when visiting Williamsburg, Virginia.  They are everywhere -- linens, soaps, dishes, etc.  But what really blew me away were decorations like this at Christmas (source BHG).


The whole area is lit up and decorated beautifully.  I was stunned to learn that the decorations were made from real fruit!  If you ever have the chance to visit Williamsburg at Christmastime, you'll discover a gem.

Supplies:
MOOD WHEN DONE = Welcoming

Sep 18, 2015

Get It, Girl




Just get out there and get it -- maybe a college degree, understanding your kid, a new hairdo, or the WRMK's Fuse tool because you want to get on the shaker card bandwagon.  Whatever it is, hope it is something fine and good and that you get it.


Inspired by Michele Ferguson's gorgeous card (below) that she made for the Muse Challenge -- black patterned paper, a tag, and a beautiful butterfly.  There is still time to play in this challenge as entries are not due until Monday at 8 am!


Supplies:
  • Clear and Simple Stamps Butterfly Garden I
  • The Ton Get It Girl
  • Pink Paislee Bella Rouge Patterned Paper
  • Just Dandy Studio Doily
  • Pink, yellow and red Tombow markers
  • Watercolor paper, water, paintbrush
  • Gansai Tambi gold paint
  • Zig Clear Color black brush marker
  • Lawn Fawn stitched rectangle die
  • A2 white card
  • Mustard thread
  • Waltzingmouse tag die
  • Ranger Spun Sugar Distress ink and blender
  • Adhesives
MOOD WHEN DONE = Inspired

Sep 15, 2015

Just Dandy Studio: 3 Cards

Every Tuesday for the next few months I'll be sharing some projects made with Just Dandy Studio products.  Thank you for checking them out!

And thanks to Melissa Bickford, the owner and heart and soul of this new company, for being such a delight to work with.  Speaking of Melissa, she shares some fun free printables on her blog on a fairly regular basis. 

These are not the first projects I made with my Just Studio Dandy supplies, but I so loved how easy these cards were to make that I decided to bump them up to first place.



These came together so quickly.



Supplies:


Supplies:


This card base is only 4 inches wide to accommodate the leaf hanging off the right edge.

Supplies:
I noticed that Melissa is releasing her first Dandy Mail kit today, September 15th.  Each kit will include products that will not otherwise be available in her shop.  I haven't seen the kit yet so I'm looking forward to checking it out!

Ok, that's it!

MOOD WHEN DONE = Cheerful (you got to be when surrounded by Melissa's colors!)

Sep 14, 2015

An Interview With Julie Ebersole



Introducing what I hope will be monthly interviews with fun, interesting, and crafty folks.

First up HAD to be  Ms. Julie Ebersole.  Julie blogs at Paper Trufflez.  She also designs stamps and dies for Ellen Hutson and is the talent behind the Hello Monday videos on the Ellen Hutson Classroom blog.  I’ve admired Julie for years….  Enjoy!

Q. Julie, there is a whimsical, fresh, freehand, style to not only your designs, but to many of the stamp designs from the Pacific Northwest (for example, Savvy Stamps).  I just saw the Japanese animated film, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.  During the movie, which is full of stunning drawings, it occurred to me that perhaps this Asian, hand drawn style, has influenced you and other designers in the Pacific Northwest.   Any thoughts?

A. Thank you!  Oh, gosh--I’ve been a fan of Savvy Stamps for, like, EVER!!! I still own stamps they created nearly 20 years ago—I love them so much, I just can’t part with them!

I had to google the trailer of the film you mentioned because I had not heard of it—beautifully done!—and while I can’t speak for anyone else, I think you touched on something that resonates for me… I’ve always admired sumi-e (Chinese/Japanese) brush painting and I also gravitate towards organic design, both of which have influenced the way I like to paint or draw something…

I think it’s true that here in the Pacific NW there is a great love of hand-drawn art styles—I adore the subtle yet charming imperfections inherent in that type of style… I also like things that are a little quirky, and make me laugh!

Besides… we are a little different out here in sandals & socks land… *chuckle*

Q.  Can you please describe the process of designing a stamp set? For example, how do you select what images to include in a set -- why the delightful elf in Elf’d as opposed to a whimsical reindeer?  

A.  Hah!  Hmmmm, well, Elf’d came about because I get such a kick out of the Elf on the Shelf and Ellen was the one who actually suggested I try creating a stamp set—it was really hard to do, because, as you know, the Elf himself can be found doing about a million different activities and I had to narrow it down to fit within the confines of a 4x6” space!


I will admit, tho, that I adore deer/reindeer and anticipate that at some point, I’ll create a set that focuses on some ideas I’ve had for deer… *wink*

Most often, I create a set because it’s a matter of “I wish I had something like this…” Case in point: Mondo Magnolia and Mondo Poinsettia came about because I wished I had a single ginormous floral image that would fill up a card in one fell swoop!




Q.  All of your designs look hand drawn.  What program do you use to draw your designs and how many versions do you go through?

A.  I probably have one of the most mediocre processes out there, LOL! Some of my designs are actually hand-painted, scanned at a super high resolution, and then the art work is “cleaned up” via Photoshop. Other times, I may start the design out completely on my iPad mini, using a vector drawing app and then export it into Illustrator for further finessing and tweaking.

I go through a lot of versions whether it’s hand-painted or rendered by vector—it takes me a looooong time to finalize my drawings/artwork because I’m super picky about how I want it to look in the end, and because I’m completely self-taught with Illustrator and Photoshop, so I’m still learning how to manipulate the computer software to make my images look how I like/envisioned in my head.

How long does it take from “I wonder what I’ll design” to releasing the design to the public?

It can be anywhere from 2-4 months, depending on whatever else I’m juggling, anticipated launch date, and manufacturing turn-around times.

Q.  How do you stay fresh and trendy without repeating what everyone else is designing?

A.  I mostly just go with what I personally love, but I must admit that it is really hard not to repeat what is already out there—we’re all exposed to so much of the same visual stimuli everywhere we turn!  And, everything we see leaves an imprint somewhere in our brains...

For example, there are tons of fantastic pine branches, pine cones (which, by the way, are really hard to draw! LOL!), poinsettias, pumpkins, acorns, ghosts, etc., already out there.  So, I just sit down and start painting… and painting.. and painting some more… until I’m happy with it—a LOT of paper ends up in the trash.  In the end, I try to develop something that reflects my own personal loves.

Q.  Speaking of trends -- How do you stay on top of what is trendy?  Trends appear random to me – it seems like all of a sudden pineapples are everywhere and then, they are yesterday.  How do you fit trends into your work?  What trends delight you right now and what trends just don’t appeal to you?

A.  This question cracks me up because I’m always the LAST person to know what is trendy—and I would agree they appear random to me, too!!!  I love birds, for example, and I never get tired of putting them on things. *grin*  Are they trendy any more?  I have no idea.  I just like them and will forever.  I love pineapples, and “gemstones”, etc. but I don’t often go “whole hog” with any trend and usually just tuck them in here and there when it suits a project.

I am, however, obsessed with brush and watercolor style lettering/modern calligraphy, gold, woodgrain, ombré, polka dots, stripes and geometric shapes… and I firmly believe one can never have too much washi tape!

Really about the only time something (trendy or otherwise) doesn’t appeal to me, is if it’s labor/time intensive, or it’s messy—I’m an oxymoron in the stamping world; I don’t like getting my fingers inky! :)

Q.  Your Hello Monday videos  are fabulous!   It all appears seamless.  How long does it take to plan a card, make, and edit a video?  Are there a lot of re takes?

A.  Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoy them! From start to finish, it usually takes me an entire/full day to plan a card, film the making of it, edit the video, do the voice-over, the photography, and then get a blog post written up for it. Sometimes, it crosses over into 2 days… I’m slow...

Sometimes there are a few retakes (hate when that happens…!) and sometimes things go as planned.  I do try to edit out all the boring/monotonous stuff and I also speed things up because when I watch myself in real time, it makes me wanna stick a fork in my eye…!!! (I’m waaaaay too slow and methodical when I create…)

****

Loved reading a bit about Julie's design thoughts and hope you did as well! Thanks, Julie, for taking the time to let us get to know you a bit better!  I've got interviews in the works for October and November.  Stay tuned!

Sep 12, 2015

What I Give Up in Order to Stamp

We all know the high cost of stamping.  Some Crafty Owner is tossing back a margarita* with his** feet up on his yacht counting his profits, but not us.



We buy.  And sometimes buy again.

Um, and again.

Since I don't see any Rockefellers or Trumps*** in the stamping forums, I'm assuming that, like me, you are making many, many sacrifices in order to $pend on $tamping.

Here's what I give up in order to stamp. 

1.  My job.  You can't participate in blog hops and comment enough to win FREE STUFF if you have to get up every. stinking. day. and go to work.

2.  Ironing.  I take the time to schlep over to the dry cleaner every single week to drop off and pick up the husband's work shirts so I can save the iron for flattening ribbon, removing the gloss off of embossing, and other crafty techniques.

3.  Art and design classes.  Best to just steal other people's ideas rather than spend $$ learning how to do stuff.  Thank you for sharing so much online! ****

4.  Housecleaning.  Have you seen the cost of those Mr. Clean eraser sponge things?  And they disappear once used! I don't think so.

5.  Cooking.  I added up the expense of cooking one dinner for two.  I was shocked.
  • Stove $1500.  
  • Food $1000.00 
  • Plates:  $1700 (I have good taste).  
  • Car to go grocery shopping:  $30,000
Clearly it is cheaper to eat out.

Would love to hear what you give up in order to stamp 'cause I need to save more money to buy some new Christmas stamps.

*  I've never had a margarita.*****  Can they be tossed?
** Men rule the world.  And the stamping industry.
*** Been tossing around ideas on how to incorporate Trump into this blog.  It's coming one of these days.
****  Speaking of stealing ideas, got the footnote on the blog post idea from one of my fave bloggers, the ever nuts Ms. Carole Burrage.
*****  In the calorie contest between chocolate and alcohol, chocolate always wins.

Sep 10, 2015

5 Tips for Making Cards to Give to Non Crafters

Honest moment here -- a lot of our friends and family tell us that they like our cards, but maybe just a few of them really don't.  They think we:
  • make stuff that looks home made and not in a good way,
  • have too much time on our hands, and
  • spend too much money making stuff that looks home made and not in a good way.
Since this card is going to someone I haven't met (new neighbor), and I'm guessing she isn't a paper crafter, I set out to make something that would not look home made/not in a good way. 


Decided to make a coordinating envelope because I could --


I have no idea if I succeeded because our recipients usually don't say things like "wow, this is really juvenile."  They nod and say thanks and then talk about us behind our backs.  Whatever.  They're in therapy and we aren't.  So there.

I used these tips to create what I hope is a card that works for a non crafter:
  1. It fits easily into an envelope! 
  2. The sentiment makes sense to, and doesn't offend, the recipient.  Puns will work, depending on the recipient.  But slang, such as "Xmas," or "luv" might not.  Some folks even object to "congrats."  Suggesting a non crafter follow his or her bliss might leave the recipient confused.  Therefore, unless you know your recipient well, avoid slang and use complete, correctly spelled, and frequently used, words or phrases.
  3. Some trends are only trends in the papercrafting community, while others cross over into the general pop.  Example:  handwritten (or bold scripty) fonts are everywhere, but sequins not so much.  
  4. Stamp or print an inside sentiment.  Whenever a friend visits, we inevitably end up in my craft room, where I show them my stuff.  Every single non crafter opens the cards and comments that there is no sentiment on the inside.  (I don't have one for this card, so a hand note will have to suffice.)
  5.  Make it well.  Total ink coverage, straight sentiment, etc.  You know the drill.  These are qualities that everything we make should have, but a crafter might understand slightly spotty ink coverage -- a non crafter won't.  
Any other ideas?  Share them -- we can all learn!

*****

Supplies:
MOOD WHEN DONE = Happy to be a Paper Crafter!

Sep 8, 2015

Glittery Cake




There's (another) new stamp company, Concord & 9th, and it is speaking to me.  I love hand drawn, slightly wonky, designs.  This set, Eat Cake & Celebrate, contains a bunch of fun designs. 



Love the dies for this set because the center of each die is open, making it so much easier to use.

Supplies:
Got lots more to share this week!  Hope your week is a good one.

MOOD WHEN DONE = Glittery!



Sep 7, 2015

Muse Challenge #132 Cheer Up



I'm the Muse designer this week.  You can find the Muse challenge here. The challenge is an easy one -- make a card inspired by mine.  Looking forward to seeing what folks make!

Used a terrific stamp by Taylored Expressions called Graphic Greetings:  Get Well.  TE has a series of similar stamps for different occasions and they all make it easy to whip up a card.  And polka dots is just another say of saying "be happy"!!!




Supplies:
  • Taylored Expressions Graphic Greetings:  Get Well
  • Papertrey Ink Soft Stone A2 card
  • White cardstock
  • Pink Paislee Bella Rouge patterned paper
  • Ribbon from Paper Source
  • Memento Tuxedo, Brilliance Rocket Red, and Stampin Up Crushed Curry inks
  • Dimensional (to pop up flower and trimmed sentiment lines)
  • Scissors
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Adhesive
MOOD WHEN DONE = Cheerful!

Sep 5, 2015

Snippets from the Retired Life



Mr. Husband turned to me the other night and said the worst possible thing a man can tell his wife:   "You are turning into your mother."  Couldn't argue with him, although I've yet to accuse him of stealing my false teeth and I don't save thousands of plastic shopping bags all throughout the house because "some day they will charge you for using plastic bags and I'll be ready." 



Perhaps if I ever get false teeth that day will come, but in the meantime, I apologized in advance for what I expect to be a lifetime of hell for this poor man.

Speaking of my mother, I volunteer in the gift shop of the local hospital where my mom spent a lot of time.  I'm "giving back." The other day someone called the shop and asked if we had "Nutella to Go."  And potato chips.  And, because well, it's the hospital, lifesavers.

Why, yes we do. (Except for water, the gift shop is a lifeline to an early death.  Not an apple or a pack of almonds in sight.)  Turns out the caller was a patient in the heart unit and wanted delivery. This isn't the Ritz Carleton, so I told him I didn't think we delivered anything to patients other than flowers.  Wrong.  So we deliver fat, sugar, and sodium to a guy in the heart unit.  Not sure what I am "giving back."

Speaking of an early death, I get a gel manicure every couple of weeks.



My nails finally look decent.  Blue, pink, orange.  I've tried them all.  LOVE.  However, this week my manicurist told me I have to stop because my nails are too thin.  Plus they have started to hurt.  Apparently gel manicures are not good for you.

So I told her that I could use the $ from the gel to get my hair colored professionally (I started home coloring after I retired to save $$ for $tamp$.)  Her reaction:  "Good, your hair is gray and green.  Time for a change."


$$ for $tamp$ or hair?


Sep 4, 2015

Cactus!

I really want some cactus stamps (refuse to use the word cacti -- just hate the way it sounds!).  But, since no one sent me free cactus stamps, and I figured I wouldn't use them a lot, I just drew a few.  There are some drawing/scale issues here, but it was fun!!! 



Originally, the pots were floating magically above the blue tablecloth!   So I did what I usually do, which was walk away and get a little sulky.  When I came back, I fiddled.  Adding more tablecloth and shading  or whatever. Then I was happy even.

I so wanted to use the "Hope It Tickles" sentiment from Waltzingmouse Funky Feathers, but it didn't fit, even though this is an A6 card.  Next time! So I substituted another sentiment from that set. 

Supplies:

  • Watercolor paper
  • Water
  • Paper towels
  • Paintbrushes
  • Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolor paints
  • Purple note card (flat) from Paper Source
  • Cream cardstock, cut and scored to A2
  • adhesive
  • Liquid Frisket
  • Pencil
  • Micron black pen
  • Waltzingmouse Funky Feathers
  • Ranger Archival Black ink
  • Adhesive
  • Patience

MOOD WHEN DONE = A for Effort

Sep 3, 2015

Just Dandy Studio Creative Team

So happy to share that last night Melissa Bickford asked me to join her Just Dandy Studio Creative Team for a 3 month term.  As I mentioned in my post yesterday (before I knew about the Team - really!), I love the items in her shop -- the colors alone lower my blood pressure.  Plus, polka dots!


The "tagline" in Melissa's shop is "simply cheerful paper goods and gifts."  What a testament to Melissa and her approach to crafting and life.   Can't wait to get my hands on her products and hope I do them justice.  Thanks Melissa!


Sep 2, 2015

A Few Things Sparking My Creativity

Worth checking out --

  • Melissa Bickford has a new shop -- Just Dandy Studio.  It's full of colorful, cheerful items, such as mugs, wrapping paper, cards, embellishments, etc.; I want to scoop up all of them!  Here are a few of my faves:




  • Zak! Designs    Saw this line of kitchenware in a gift shop while we were visiting Lititz, PA last week, and bought a few kiwi (green) confetti small plates. So fun and they are giving me design ideas!

  • Speaking of design, there's (another) new paper crafting company, and I'm smitten.  Concord & 9th.  A few of my favorites:


Hope something sparks!

Sep 1, 2015

BOO!


Love Halloween, but shy away from buying any Halloween specific sets because I won't get enough use out of most of them.  For this card, I used a set of house stamps drawn by Claudine Hellmuth and watercolored in traditional Halloween colors. 

Paint, dry, paint, dry, repeat many times!  The Gansai Tambi watercolors are my favorite -- I can get rich color, which is hard with watercolor. I've linked to Ellen Hutson's shop but you can google and find them in many shops. 

Used an alphabet stamp for the sentiment (stamped once in black and once, slightly off set in white), and added some dots for "eyes." 


Supplies:
MOOD WHEN DONE = Skeered!