Another Giant cupcake!

I promised you another cupcake, didn't I? I made this one a little different. The bottom of the cupcake is chocolate and the top part is vanillia. I only iced the top of the cupcake this time and added some red/white sprinkles. No, this isn't for me ( I still have some of mine left!) but for a friend whose birthday is Saturday.

We have a winner!!!

We have winner.
#20..... who was.....

"Monica-FC said...
I will say 43"

Well Monica (and everyone else)... I turned 33 today! So I have been a demo for 3 yrs. Monica, you had it half right! lol


Okay, I know the 64 in my SCS 'bambi64' nick had you all guessing 44 as my age. And I know I'm going to get questions on why in the world i have 64 in my nick if that isn't my birth year! So here it goes, the story behind my nick:

Bambi came from my first ever boyfriend (1st grade) who passed away in 7th grade from cancer. He was the only one that ever called me Bambi. As for the 64... when i signed up for a hotmail account, bambi was taken and it threw up some numbers to go with bambi. Like bambi5466, bambi235678 or bambi356. Now how in the world would i ever remember that? So I started thinking of a number i could remember and that sounded well with bambi. To me 64 sounded better than 75 with bambi.

So there you have the reasoning behind my nick!

Monica, email me at hillmanfam@woh.rr.com ,with blog winner in the subject, with your address so I can send it off to you.

And once again Monica!!!

Retirement card & Birthday cake

Today's sketch on Splitcoaststampers gave me the perfect layout to make a retirement card. As I have said in previous posts, the principal, Mr.Eagle, at the elementary is retiring after 25 yrs so I made a card today to go with his gift.

I used the oval coluzzle to cut around the eagle that is stamped in black stazon. River Rock and Going Gray are sponged around him. Canvas is stamped on Going Gray and River Rock.

stamp: SU Wildlife Reserve, SU Words of Wisdom; Ink: black stazon, river rock, going gray; paper:River Rock, Going Gray, Basic Black, Vanilla; accs: brads, coluzzle, sponge

It's my birthday and I want cake! So to get good cake (or at least cake that i like ;) ), I have to make it myself!! Rememeber the post where I showed you the neat cupcake pan?? Well here is my cake:



Check out those sprinkles.... PIGS!!

I'm having a cupcake tonight.. not sure what the rest of the family is going to have! lol A friend told me that I can always say "I only ate one cupcake!" whenever I make this and eat it all by myself!! I see lots of possiblities in icing the cupcake.. I just have to perfect them! Tomorrow I will have another cupcake to show that is decorated just a little differently.

Blog Candy!

Not only is this month my birthday but it is also the anniversary of when I signed up to be a SU demo!! So why not a little blog present to you from the birthday girl? And what is the "present" you ask?

Well I'm thinking some ribbon, scallop squares, ovals, rectangles in SU colors. How many? Oh... depends on how crazy I go with the punches! I also foresee Primas and whatever else i can find in my stash! Here is a sneak of some of the goodies that are in store for you!



So how can you be entered?? The second digit of my age is how long I have been a SU demo. Guess my age, which will give you how many years I have beeen a demo and you will be entered in the drawing pot.


I will draw a winner tomorrow, my birthday (Jan 30th), around 9pm est. Good luck!!

I am working on a major project that I hope to finish today. Keep your fingers crossed I don't run into any snags!

Part 2 of 6 cards

Thought I would share the other cards that were made on Sunday during our card making together time! lol

The first two Pretty Princess's were made by my 11 yr old, Carmen. She cuts all her own paper, stamps her images, does her own faux stitch and even puts in brads. Does the second card look a little familar? We both picked the same card from the featured stamper to case!


stamp set: Pretty Princess; paper: purples, pinks, white, cool carribean, chocolate chip; ink: black, white, purple; accs: brads, ribbon, markers, paper piercer

Now this card is special. Not only did my 8 yr old, Allie, pick out a card to case from the featured stamper but she made this card with her principal in mind! He is retiring on Thursday (I know, not finishing out the school year but there are health issues in his family involved) after 25 yrs of service!

I cut and stamped the images for her, but she did the coloring, layering and putting in the brad. She also added stickles on the heart and for the kids' eyes. I had a chance to talk to the principal last night. He told me that he didn't see who left the envelope on his desk (it was Allie as she was the helper for her class yesterday) but as soon as he saw the card, he knew who it was from! I guess us stampers have a reputation at the school! lol

stamp set: Vintage Valentine, wording is from MFT; Ink: basic black; Paper: red, pinks; Accs: heart brad, stickles

Coming shortly... blog candy!!! And a BIG project!!

6 cards in one day!!

Well... really that's not completely true... only 3 cards made today were mine. The other three belong to my 2 daughters! But all in all, we made 6 cards today!

Today's featured stamper was StampingPam. I found at least 3 cards in her gallery that I wanted to case. The first one being this card as I needed a birthday card.

I went with all purples as that is the birthday girl's favorite color. I also wanted to try the SU rub-ons for SAB. So this card had NO STAMPING on it!! How cool is that?!! I had to sponge the design paper as I didn't have any in purple. There is even a row of rub-on dots on the ribbon!! I'm a loving these rub-ons!

paper: elegant eggplant, lavendar lace, orchid oplenece: acc: rub-ons, brad, photo corner punch, ribbon, corner punch for scallops, hodgepodge

Next I made a simple card using Happy Occasions from My Favorite Things. I stamped on the dp with certainly celery ink. Cut out one tie and mounted it with a glue dot and stamped Father's Day in the Word window punch.

stamps: Happy Occasions by My Favorite Things; paper: white, dp; ink: certainly celery; Accs: scallop punchs, word window punch

Last card for tonight is a special card. Someone left a comment on one of my cards on Splitcoaststampers a few days ago and in her signature line was her blog addy. Her name wasn't familiar to me so I went to her blog. On her blog I found a request for a RAK for a doctor friend of hers that has last stage bone cancer. So this card is for Dr.Chris. If you would like to send him a RAK (his daughter is getting marriend this June!), please visit Mary's blog to find out more information on him and to get his address.

I turned Pam's card into a masculine card by changing the colors to browns, adding some distressing and some hemp twine. Flannel Plaid is stamped on the background in Close To Cocoa. Saying is from Verses Rubber Stamps and distressed with distress inks.

stamps: What Cancer Cannot Do - Versers Rubber Stamps, Flannel Plaid; paper: chocolate chip, close to cocoa, vanilla, black; ink: distress inks, close to cocoa; accs: hemp twine, brads, photo corner punch, notched punch

I will upload the cards my girls made in a seperate post.

Look what I got!!

Well as most of you know (if you pay any attention to the side bar ;) ), my birthday is coming up. I saw something on Taylor's blog a few days ago that I just loved. I managed to find it at Surlatable.net and sent the link to my mom just to show her. Well guess what I got today from my mom via Sur la table?? Thank you, mom!!

a Giant Cupcake pan by Wilton!! How cool is that? I will admit I made one tonight but believe me when I say it was not worth posting! lol But it did taste good!! And guess who is having a cupcake cake for her birthday and it will be a masterpiece that I will post!

Painted wishes

For the Ways to use it challenge, Julie challenged us to use good ole paint!! I wasn't going to do it as I still needed to do the Sketch Challenge and didn't think i could combine the two. But on the sketch challenge, there is a section going across the middle of the card. hmmmmmm I have a whole stack of chipboard shapes... wonder if any of them would work? Lo and behold, one will work perfectly!! But what colors? well...

I decided on a Monochromatic card in shades of green.

Did you know you can add reinkers to white acrylic paint? I don't have a ratio, just keep adding drops of reinker until you get the desired shade. I may have had close to 40 drops of Mellow Moss and it still was light.

I painted a misc. chipboard piece and helped it dry some with the heat gun! Added holes with crop-a-dile for the ribbon. Using Always Artichoke ink, I stamped Birthday Wishes onto the chipboard. The background is Floral stamped in Mellow Moss Craft ink and stamped on Vanilla cardstock.




Stamps: Floral, Sincere Salutations
Paper: always artichoke, old olive, vanillia
Ink: old olive craft, always artichoke
Accessories: white acrylic paint, old olive reinker, crop-a-dile, ribbon, chip board

It's your day!

Well so far it isn't my day! Little one got me up at 4 and stayed awake. Actually her getting up so early was probably a good thing as our frozen pipes BUSTED!! I didn't hear the water until 4:30 when I went to check on the washing machine (where the pipes were frozen). Had to wake up poor hubby from a sound sleep to have him go turn off the water! Plumbers are here now fixing them so hopefully the rest of the day will go better!! On top of that, school is on a 2 hr delay, don't ask, I don't know..... it's only a little bit of snow!!

Since I couldn't do anything this morning, I decided to work on the color challenge, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky and Real Red. I also decided to combine the My Favorite Sketch with the colors.

Kind of funny that I used Time for the Bubbly, which is a bath image, when i can't even take one right now!! lol

I masked the lady in the tub, the mirror and the bubbles to add the "wallpaper" which is a stamp from Behind the Scences by My Favorite Things. Watercolored the tub, floor, mirror edge, bottle, glass and carpet. Markers were used on the flowers, edge of carpet. I put Crystal Effects on the bubbles, bottle and glass and used a white embossing marker on the mirror to give it a clear smooth surface. There is some bling on the wall with Frosted Lace stickles in the middle of the flowers. Wording is embossed in silver. The bottle and glass are on dimensions.

stamp sets: Behind the Scenes, Time for the Bubbly - My Favorite Things; ink: blue bayou, soft sky, real red, black stazon; paper: watercolor paper, blue bayou, soft sky, real red; accs: crystal effects, dimensions, silver & clear embossing powder, frosted lace stickles

STAMPS FOR SALE!

Below is Retired SU stamps/punches/paper/ink etc. I have for sale. Buyer to pay shipping. I accept Paypal. Please email me (hillmanfam@woh.rr.com) with Stamps for Sale in the subject line or leave me a message here if you are interested in any. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.

Stamp sets:
All Year Cheer I (12) - $22.00
All-Year Cheer II (12) - $22.00
Along the Same Lines (4) - $10.00 (level 2 hostess set 05-06)
Best Blossoms (6) - $10.00
Bold Basics (11) - $20.00 (New but mounted)
Burst into Bloom (4) - $6.00 Sold
Days Gone By (6) - $15.00 (well loved)
Delight In Life (6) - $10.00 (masks inlcuded)
Edgy Eloquence(6) - $15.00
Flower Garden (7) - $15.00
NUM Fun Filled (8) - $12.00
Furnished With Love (6) - $12.00
Itty Bitty Borders (4) - $8.00
Looks Like Spring ( 6) - $22.00 SOLD
NUM Love Ya Bunches (6)- $15.00 (only the wheelbarrow has been mounted with wording on the side)
Paint Prints (6) - $10.00 (well loved)
Riveting (8) - $10.00 (level 1 hostess set '06-'07) Sold
Something To Celebrate (9) - $19.00 (2 stamps not mounted)
Stipple Celebration (14) - $22.00
You Are My Sunshine (9) - $19.00 (New but mounted)

Punch:
Spring Bouquet Flower - $8.00 (goes with Looks Like Spring set up above) SOLD

Paper:
Unopened Cranberry Crisp 8 1/2 x 11 - $5.00
Unopened Morning Marigold 8 1/2 x 11 - $5.00 SOLD

Ink:
Eggplant Envy - $5.00
Cranberry Crisp - $5.00
Marigold Morning - $5.00 SOLD
Cool Caribbean - $5.00
True Thyme -$5.00
Buckaroo Blue - $5.00

ReInkers:
Cranberry Crisp - $2.50 (new)
Marigold Morning - $2.50 (new) SOLD
Cool Caribbean - $2.50 (new) SOLD
True Thyme - $2.50 (new) SOLD
Buckaroo Blue - $2.50 (new) SOLD

K stands for...

KathyC, Featured Stamper today on SCS!

I went with this card of Kathy's to use as my case. I changed the stamps and one ink color. Using the set Be Mine from My Favorite Things, I used all of the candy hearts in fired brick Distress ink. Sponged the ink on and went back over top with vintage photo Distress Ink. I still used Linen background (love that stamp, so sad SU retired it!) in Chocolate Chip. Sponged on Chocolate Chip and vintage photo Distress ink. Masked the area were I put the wording, which came from Hearts Galore by My Favorite Things. I had to use a square HodgePodge piece as I am all out of the ovals that Kathy used.

stamp set: Be Mine, Hearts Galore- My Favorite Things; ink: fired brick & vintage photo Distress ink, SU chocolate chip; paper: chocolate chip, vanilla; accs: ribbon, hodgepodge, sponge

Some catching up

Sorry I haven't posted for awhile. No excuses really, just taking a little break from blogging. But not from stamping!! So here are 3 cards from this past weeks challenges.

Combonation of the color challenge and sketch challegne, using the set called Snowball Fight by Treehouse Stamps. Stamped the turtle, sign and snowballs on watercolor paper with black stazon. Used SU markers for coloring, aquapainter to lift some marker off here and there for shading. Used Diamond stickles on the snowballs and dotted for snow and under the turtle for snow. Sponged around the turtle with apricot appeal and sage shadow. Sign and snowballs are on dimensions. Setting the Stage by My Favorite Things (the little doodles at the top corners)
Stamp sets: Snowball Fight - TreeHouse Stamps, Setting the Stage - My favorite Things; ink: black stazon; paper: Rose Red, Apircot Appeal, Sage Shadow, watercolor; accs: markers:Rose Red, Apircot Appeal, Sage Shadow; aquapainter, eyelets, diamond stickles, crop-a-dile

The Ways To Use it challenge was to use embossing powder. I did a really simple card using Punny Farm by My Favorite Things. Using the cow, I stamped him in versamark and embossed him in detailed Black embossing powder. Colored his spots with Prismacolor black marker. Around the cow, I dry embossed a rectangle. Wording is also embossed in detail black embossing powder.

stamps: Punny Farm - My Favortie Things; Ink: Versamark; paper: white, black; Accs: detail black embossing powder, Prismacolor black marker, dry embossing tools

I loved the Limited Challenge this week, using background stamps ... no cuttlebug or design paper. No problem for me as i don't own a Cuttlebug and I don't use much design paper on my cards. (I tend to hoard it! lol)

1-2 background stamps, a main image set and optional sentiment, 2 colors plus a neutral, any quick tools (except Cuttlebug), any kind of Embellishments but keep it simple

I took a layout from the SU demo Stampin' Sucess. Used Icing on the Cake set by My Favorite Things. In the set is a background stamp of stars. I love this stamp, don't ask me why, just love those stars.

Anyways, I stamped in River Rock on River Rock. Used a scallop rectangle punch for the chocolate chip. Added a little bit of Going Gray for my neutral color. Double stamped sentiment. (did you know with acrylic stamps you can bend the sentiments? "Make a Wish" is actually straight but I curved it on my block before stamping! How cool is that.) Cupcake was stamped on white in black stazon and watercolored in with the inks. Tis up on a dimension. Added some Chocolate chip ribbon for my simple embellishment.

stamps: Icing on the Cake by My Favortie Things; Ink: chocoalte chip, river rock, black stazon; paper: River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Going Gray; Accs: Chocolate chip ribbon, aquapainter, scallop rectangle punch, dimension

A Walk

Every week there is a sketch posted in the My Favorite Things forum on Splitcoaststampers. There is no time limit as to when the sketch has to be done. And you don't have to use MFT sets if you don't own any. This week it was a circle within a square. (or you could change it a bit if you liked but I try, notice try, to keep within the guidelines)


I'll admit, for some reason I have a hard time with circles on my cards. Maybe because I don't own anything that cuts out a circle for me. (well I do now as my mom gave me her circle coluzzle!) So I ran up to my mom's to use her Nestibilites.


I used Walk along the Seashore as my main image. Colored with Prismacolor markers. Masked the lady and the dog so I could add in the waves. And then it was stipple time! I used my Distress inks and just started stippling. I started with the water first, then the beach and then finally the sunset. The tide is coming in as there is a little bit of water under her feet.

Her hat and the bird are on dimenisons. I decided to carry the main image's background onto the square. Used the photo corner punch and made faux brads with the white gel pen.

Stamps: Walk along the Seashore by My Favorite Things; Paper: prism blue, white, pink; Ink: Distress ink black and various colors; Accs: Prismacolor markers, dimensions, stipple brush, Nestibilites, photo corner punch

To see what others have done using this sketch, check out this gallery: MFTSC13

Just Mucking About

Using Punny Farm by My Favorite Things, I cased the following card for the featured stamper, I'mVeronica, on Splitcoaststampers.

I colored with Prismacolor Watercolor pencils first and then highlighted with Prismacolor markers.

This little lady is *mucking in style with her pink rubber boots. Wish I had had a pair when I was raising my pigs, hated those plain boring black pair I had to wear!

stamp set: Punny Farm by My Favorite Things; Ink: black Stazon; paper: white, pink; Accs: Prismacolor watercolor pencils & markers

*For those who don't know what Mucking is:
Mucking (v) - to clean the muck out of a place such as a stable or barn
Muck (n) - soft moist dirt or filth

All in the Rich Regal Family

I really enjoyed today's Limited Challenge, All in the Family. We had to use only one family color for the card. That included paper, ink, ribbon, brads, etc. And then to limit ourselves even further, we could try to do the challenge with only 2 colors, 2 embellishments and limited tools!

I picked my ribbon first and matched around it. I went with a simple layout. (for some reason i had a limit of 2 layers in my head!!) Did faux embossing: Punched So saffron cardstock with 1/2 inch circle punch, layered twice on to So Saffron cardstock to make dots. Stamped the flower on watercolor paper and then used markers and aquapainter to blend and highlight the flower. Leaves are done the same way and are on dimensions as is the flower.

I wanted the lower section to look like i had used a wheel but Time Well Spent is a hostess set and doesn't come with a matching wheel! So I took the butterfly and 2 flowers stamped them in ballet blue and made my own "wheel" look.

stamp set: Time Well Spent; paper: So Saffron, watercolor; inks: Ballet Blue, black stazon; Accs: markers, ribbon, 1/2 inch circle punch, dimensions

Now the hard part... I have demo camp the end of the month. We do a 16 cardfront swap. I was going to do this card but now I like what I did today and am thinking of doing it instead. Which one would you want to receive?

Faux Suede Tutorial

I got the directions from diy network. I work better with a tutorial that has pictures so here you go.




Liquid applique
Rubber brayer
cardstock (I used Kraft cardstock)
paper plate ( I used wax paper)
Heat gun



Squeeze liquid applique onto plate or wax paper. A little will go a long way. Brayer your brayer in the liquid applique until it is covered.





Brayer onto your cardstock. Recoat the brayer if there is still some liquid applique left on your plate/wax paper. Keep brayering your cardstock until you get the coverage you want.





Heat the cardstock with your heat gun . This picture shows some of the liquid applique already heated and the rest of it not. Where my name is, that isn't heated. you can see the difference.





Keep heating until the entire piece is puffed up. Since it is spread on so thin, it won't get puffed up high.

Wash your brayer off with soapy water.

Finish into a card. (It feels like you are working with the real thing too!!)



Images are all My Favorite Things.

Could I have used any more Faux Suede??

Today's Way to Use It was to use Leather. Well I don't have any leather I could cut up so I opted for the faux way. I went with Faux Suede. I actually did two different kinds of faux suede!

I wanted to see if there was any other ways to do faux suede than what I knew. (Breaking the bonds in the paper by sliding it over the table top or scraping the bone folder over and over the cardstock.) Well I found directions at diy network on faux suede using Liquid applique. So I decided to try that way for a background and also do a tutorial on it as diy only gave directions.

But first the card. I used the Punny Farm set from My Favorite Things that was just released last night. I wanted the animals heads to be 3-d, so I stamped them twice, cut out their heads and used dimensions. I cut slits in the green to make it look like grass and placed the animals (on dimensions) behind the grass. Flower brads hold the grass and pocket down. Instead of flowers that the cow should be holding, I stuck the present in his mouth. The sheep is holding balloons and the pig has a cupcake. Used prismacolor markers for coloring.

The hats and present came from Let's go for a walk, Balloons from Icing on the cake and the cupcake is from Dinomite. All by My Favorite things. The inside of the pocket is dp from Far East Mat stack. I distressed it with vintage photo distress ink to dirty it up.

stamps: Punny Farm, Dino-Mite, Let's Go For a walk, Icing on the cake; paper: kraft, green, dp; ink: black distress; accs: prismacolor markers, dimensionals, brads. eyelets, ribbon, liquid applique

Valentine Suckers

Last night was MFT's release party in the member forums of Splitcoaststampers. What a crazy/fun time!

I had been working on a project but wasn't sure if i would get it done in time for the release or not. The stamping gods must have been with me as I actually finished with time to spare!

We all know Valentines is coming up, right? MFT just released a set called Happy Occasions that just called out to be used for a Valentine project and Digital paper called KISS. I decided to combine the release project with Allie's Valentines for school! (how is that for killing two birds with one stone??)

I went to the Family Dollar store and the Dollar General (yes, we have both stores within a few 100 feet from each other! crazy as we are a little town) to look for supplies. I didn't find anything Valentiny to go with what I had in mind BUT I did find stuff on their Christmas clearance that would work perfectly!! Now you are wondering how would Christmas items work for Valentines, aren't you? Well take a look:

How neat is that? She can take in the entire thing to school and the kids can pick their suckers right off the 'tree'. So what was the Christmas items I used, you ask? Take a look at the front view and see if you can figure it out.

See that green sucker? Well they didn't have any Valentine suckers out but had these Christmas suckers so i grabbed them and will trade them out for Valentine ones!! The tin actually had a picture of Santa on it! So I used the Kiss Black & White Digital paper that My Favorite Things sells to cover it. Added some pink ribbon and some shredded pink filler, a foam block or two and I was ready to stick those suckers in!

The sucker covers are 5 1/2 by 2 7/16. Scored at 3 9/16, 3 3/16, 15/16 and 11/16. Punch a hole in between the smaller score lines. Add a little bit of tape to that little lip so it will stay shut after the sucker is in. All frames are on dimensions to allow for the smaller piece to be tucked up in.

I had to cut the frames out by hand as I don't have the scallop punch that fits it! (it is on order though!!) I used glitter gel pen on some of the frames and also stamped and cutout just the heart to layer on top for those with the glitter.

This set has stamps for Birthday, Fathers day, Mothers day, Christmas, St.Paddy day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, Fourth of July and New Years. Just think of all the sucker trees you could make!!

Stamp set: Happy Occasion - My Favorite Things; Paper: Digital black & white Kiss collection by My Favorite Things, white; Ink: Variety of SU inks; Accs: glitter gel pen, dimensions, tin, ribbon, suckers

MFT Sneak peeks!!

Today is the day I can finally start to show you what I have been working on for My Favorite Things.

Stamp set is Be Mine, it contains box of candy, poem, 2 sayings and 4 conversation hearts, I only used two of the hearts on the following card. Embossed hearts with clear embossing powder. Colored in the box of candy with prismacolor markers, layered on chocolate chip and Cranberry crisp, distressed the edge with vintage photo distress ink. Attached vellum with vellum tape and heart eyelet. Added ribbon.
Stamp set: Be Mine; Ink: Distress Ink Worn Lipstick, Distress embossing ink, black stazon; Paper: Vellum, Chocolate Chip, Cranberry Crisp, Shimmer; Accs: Prismacolor markers, ribbon, heart eyelet, clear embossing powder, vellum tape

I found this photo frame in the reduced rack at Joanns for 50 cents! The digital designer paper is from My Favorite Things. It is called Kiss Collection and as you can tell, I used the black and white series. I have never used digital designer paper before and let me tell you... It was fun!! Can't wait to use some more of it. k, back to the picture frame! I stamped 3 of the conversation hearts with Distress ink Worn Lipstick. I covered them in crystal effects to give them more of a 3-d look. The top two are on dimensions. The picture is of my little one (who will be 2 next month!!) when she was teeny tiny.
Stamp set: Be Mine; Ink: Distress Ink Worn Lipstick; Paper: Black & White Kiss collection from MFT; Accs: Ribbon, crystal effects

Last but not least the challenge card!! I used the MFT sketch for my layout and went with some older try a new Technique. I picked masking and shabby chic as my techniques. I masked the pig so that I could add the grass (from It's a Jungle Out There) and the clouds. I distressed all layers of cardstock with either the distresser tool or Ink. Pig was colored with prismacolor markers.

This Valentine is for my hubby as I am a big pig lover, raised them for 4-H, collect all kind of pig items from knick knacks to clothing to dishes to you name it, I could have it! He even promised me a REAL pot belly pig whenever we own our own home! (we rent, no pets allowed) Since this is for him, I am going to write on the inside "That means, "Honey, I love you" in Pig". And yes there is pigs on the ribbon! Isn't that cute. Someone saw it, thought of me and sent me some.

Stamp set: Punny Farm, It's a Jungle Out There; Ink: Su Garden Green, Black Stazon, Bashful Blue; Paper: white, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Misc Design paper; Accs: Prismacolor Markers, cloud stencil, ribbon, brads




I'm still working on something else as there is still one more set I have yet to show you. But as I am waiting for something to come in the mail (hopefully today), you will have to wait! So until then, go check out the Design teams creations to see what else has been made with the sets.

My Favorite Things will be hosting a New Release Cocktail Party on Wednesday night (January 9th) from 9-11 pm EASTERN time. There will be sneak peeks, lots of fun and a chance to become MFT’s next Guest Designer. Don't forget to check out the MFT thread on Splitcoaststampers for more details.

Time with Friends

Have I ever mentioned how much I enjoy doing the Featured Stamper on Splitcoast? I like the idea of going into a gallery of someone I may not know and looking at their art work. Sometimes trying to pick just one card to case is hard as there are tons I'd like to do but just don't have the time.

This week it was Nancy Riley, aka Stampinat6213 on SCS. I picked out quite a few to case but narrowed it down to this one, Be Happy Everything Birthday.

Once again, I picked up SU Time Well Spent, Level 3 hostess set. I had to try to get the big flower to work for me! So I stamped it in black stazon on Shimmer cardstock. Using ink pads, I watercolored the flower. I only used two inks, Groovy Guava and Chocolate Chip. In the middle of my flower is a clear button. I used the stamp-a-ma-jig and chocolate chip marker to postion the saying, I didn't color the flowers in as I didn't want them on the card. I made my ribbon all out of cardstock! using the crop-a-dile, I punched out paper and used the 2 way glue pen to glue the Groovy Guava dots down on the Chocolate chip "ribbon"

Stamp set: Time Well Spent; Ink: Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip, Stazon Black; Paper: Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip, shimmer; Accs: Clear button, crop-a-dile, marker, stamp-a-ma-jig, aquapainter

It's only paper!

Someone once said "Cardstock is only paper". Meaning if you make an oops, so what, throw it away and start over. Well for me that is hard as I try to use ever inch of cardstock and not waste any. EXCEPT for today!!

Today's challenge for the Limited Supply was to make a card using NO white or vanilla shades of cardstock!! Okay, deep breaths here.. I can do this, I know I can.

Since I am a Stampin' UP! demo, I need to start working on ideas for future workshops so I grabbed my only new new set from the '08 Spring/Summer catalog. (which did you notice my neat little blog banner to the side that will take you to the catalog?? or it should, I haven't tried it out actually!!)

Time Well Spent! I think this set is starting to grow on me. I think, I said. I was also looking at blogs last night and noticed Kurtis (if you've never been to his site, you have to check him out. Very talented young man!) had a sketch up. So there was my layout. Now to figure out my colors. Well I knew I wanted River Rock but what other colors? Instead of frying my brain, I went to Scraptitude's SU Color Combo site and got a combonation I liked. Ruby Red and Wild Wasabi!

Now the fun part! I started out with the big flower from the set but after stamping it twice and coloring it with water color crayons and with markers... I didn't like the look. But hey, it's only paper, right? So I cut another piece and went with a smaller flower... much better!

Added some faux stitching with a black artist pen. Then came the card front. The stars must not be in alignment for I stamped one side but my wording was to light! Did you know we have magic paper? Yup, just flip it over and start again on the other side. But then my wording was too dark! grrrrrrrrrrrrr So I cut another piece and by the time I used that magic paper, I had it perfect!! lol (Wanna know my little secret? I only do cardfronts and then mount them onto White Georgia Pacific cardstock that i get from Walmart. Saves on colored cardstock!) Stamp Set: Time Well Spent; Ink: Black Stazon, River Rock; Paper: River Rock, Wild Wasabi, Ruby Red; Accs: Retired vintage brads, stitched grosgrain, artist pen, markers: so saffron, ruby

And incase you are wonder... I am back to cleaning my area today. I swear that cardstock breeds like rabbits. Just when I think I have it all put away, I find another stack of cardstock!! Anyone have any good suggestions on how to store it so it will stop breeding??

I also have a pile of stamps I will be putting up for sale after the weekend so don't forget to check back!

Have a great stamping day!

Wedding cake and cleaning bug

There seems to be this cleaning bug going around Splitcoast so I decided to jump in too! I cleaned off my table last night and today i am going to organize my paper and hopefully go through my SU sets that I no longer want.

Since I'm taking today off from stamping (well at least anything I can post :) ), I thought I'd pull something out of my folder that I did a few years ago.

As I have stated on the side in my little bio about Me... I love to decorate cakes. So I thought I would share with you my first wedding cake I made and decorated a few years ago for a dear couple. The bride loved butterflies and I happen to have a misc butterfly stamp laying around.

After doing some research, I decided to stamp the butterfiles on vellum cardstock in SU black ink. I colored them using SU markers. I then applied a thin layer of clear piping gel to both sides so that the ink would not run off on to the cake. I cut the butterflies apart and reattached them to the cake using royal icing.

(k, now I'm hungry for cake!!)

Well, back to cleaning. You never know what I could find that I may put up for sale! Stay tuned and if you don't hear from me or see a recent upload on SCS by tomorrow ... call out the search and rescue team!

Why did you put the dogs in the water, Mom?

A small group of us on SCS decided to come up with some challenges to do over the long weekend. I am still catching up on them. One of them was a no layer card. Well, I already had an image colored on some white cardstock just begging to be finished. Usually I like to keep my no layer cards with just the image and a saying.

But this time I felt like combining a few sets. I wanted the lady and her dogs to be walking on the beach.

I colored them in using Prismacolor markers. I then masked them off and added in the beach, water and sky. The beach and water was sponged in while the sky was stippled in.



Stamp set: By the Seashore, Let's go for a Walk by My Favorite Things; Ink: black stazon, distress ink: mustard seed, scattered straw, tattered rose, vintage photo, broken china, worn lipstick; Acces: stickles, stipple brush, sponge

This is what my card looked like (minus the hat) while I was doing the water and sky.

My 5 yr old saw this and said "Mom! Why did you put the dogs in the water??!!" "And where is her
head?"

I took the mask off (without him seeing) and showed him that the dogs weren't really in the water at all. Being the smarty pants that he is, he said "I knew that Mom, I was tricking you" KIDS!!! But he still wants to know where her head is even though i told him it's under her hat!

Time Well Spent

For todays sketch on Splitcoaststampers, I decided to pull out a new Stampin' UP! set that I haven't played with. I used Time Well Spent which is a level 3 hostess set. (If you would like to know how you can get this free, contact me via email to set up a workshop) I've had this set for awhile but just hadn't played with it. Not my normal style so this card took a while. I do like how it turned out though.

I was in a purple mood so I went with all different shades of purples. I started out coloring the hearts in with markers on watercolor paper. I colored with light color first and then outlined with a darker color. I took my aquapainter to blend the colors together... ugghhh it looked nasty so I figured, what the heck, Let's spritz some water on the paper. Well.. that made the hearts run which went all over the watercolor paper. So now my watercolor paper is 'colorful'.

Stamp set: Time well Spent; Ink: Black stazon, Orchid Opulence; Paper: Orchid Opulence, Lovely lilac, watercolor, basic black; Acces: markers, water, photo corner punch

I should note that this card seemed to take forever for me today. I wasn't even half way through when my 11 yr old sat down and whipped out a card for the sketch! She went with Rain or Shine from My Favorite Things. Colored with markers and a little bit of aquapainter and ink. It was her idea to cut out the boots and tie them to the brad. (actually all her stamping is her ideas, I just help her cut the paper and stamp the images if need be.) I had better watch her.. think she is after my job!!

Stamp set: Rain or Shine by My Favorite Things; Ink: Black stazon; Paper: Cool Caribbean, Gable Green, white, black; Acces: Markers, aquapainter, brads, dmc floss

Your contract has been renewed!

After serious & cautious consideration.....your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2008! It was a very hard decision to make. So try not to mess it up!!!

My Wish for You in 2008

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address!
In simple words ............ May 2008 be the best year of your life!!!

Cold, blustery and snowy here today. Good day for stamping you would think. haha Haven't stamped a bit this New Year!! Watched football games and took a nap. BUT I am working on a card right now so hopefully I can get it up shortly. Also have some other projects under way but you can't see those until next week! :)