Hey! I know the Featured Stamper!

No, it’s not me…. it’s my mom, DawnL! I choose to case her Pearl Friend card. Now, I may have mentioned this before but when I (and mom) do the Featured Stamper, we like to go to their very first uploads and try to case a card from there. I started there but nothing was catching my eye with what I wanted to use so I ended up on her third page (if you have it set to 96 pictures) which is still cards from ‘06 and she only started stamping in ‘05.

Anyways… I changed the colors, stamp set and changed her pearl/future ex technique she did to watercoloring. I decided to pull out the new in colors that I preordered and play with them.

I stamped the bird once in soft suede on the white, and then again on another piece of white, cut it out and attached it with glue dots. Then I stamped the bird in rich razzleberry, cut it out and attached it with dimensions. Sponged on crushed curry and soft suede on the white piece and on the soft suede piece. The flowers were stamped in soft suede and then lightly watercolored in with rich razzleberry and old olive. Sanded was stamped in the background in crushed curry on crushed curry and distressed with only soft suede.

stamp set: Friends 24-7, Sanded
ink: crushed curry, soft suede, rich razzleberry, old olive (leaves)
paper: crushed curry, soft suede, rich razzleberry, white
accs: word window punch, brads, dimensions,  glue dots, sponge
technique: watercoloring, distressing

Sneak Peak of SU Decor Elements

In looking through the Fall-Winter ‘09 Definitely Decorative catalog, I spotted something that I knew Carmen, my 13 yr old would love and that I could preorder. A decor element that was designed to embellish your laptop lid! (It also adds flair to walls, frames and more) I let her pick what color she liked. Well it came today and I put it on while she was gone. I took pictures as I went so you can see how easy it is to apply one of these to your laptop lid.

Upsy Daisies decor right out of it’s packaging.

Rub on the grid side of the decor with a decor elements applicator (or in my case, Pampered Chef scrap for stoneware.) Peel the grid section off carefully starting in the corner. If the image doesn’t transfer to the other sheet, rub some more.

Lay onto laptop lid and rub on using applicator. This still has the transfer sheet on top of it.

After rubbing it on, very carefully peel off the transfer paper starting in the corner again. If for some reason it doesn’t want to transfer, rub some more.

The finished product!

Carmen loves it. At first she thought someone had spilled paint on her laptop as we have been painting rooms! I got "Pretty In Pink" Upsy Daisies for my laptop but it will be awhile before I get to put mine on as my laptop needs some work done. :(

If you like this decor and would like to see what is in the catalog, I would love to show you during a workshop. I will also bring this to any of the workshops I do so you can see what this looks like in person.

You NAILED It!

I had some images laying around on my table that I had stamped a while back but never got around to make a card. Today’s sketch on SCS was a perfect time to use them.

I pulled out a piece of design paper by Karen Foster that has boards and nailed wood to use as a background to the Nailed It set by Our Craft Lounge.  The small rectangle pieces use a image stamped over and over and then distressed with distress ink and the distresser tool.

I stamped the jar of nails and then covered it with crystal effects. The crystal effects made the nails “rust” but I liked look. The lid was colored with Prismacolor marker. Once again I distressed the middle panel with distress inks and the distresser tool. I also distressed the brads with a hammer after attaching them to the cardstock.

I used Helmar Premium Craft Glue to hold all my cardstock pieces down. It did not buckle the paper at all like some glue does. For the middle piece I used Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots and also on used them to attach the jar.


Close up of the Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots under the jar of nails.

stamp: Nailed It! – Our Craft Lounge
paper: chocolate chip, white, Karen Foster design paper
ink: distressed ink
accs: crystal effects, Helmar Liquid scrap dots, Helmar premium Craft glue, brads, distresser tool, sponge

Free Photo Editing Class!

Celebrating their second Birthday, JessicaSprague.com will host a FREE Photo Editing class!! How cool is that. I can't wait to learn some new things. For all the details and how you can sign up too, check out this link.

Wedding, Geo Caching and ducks

We had a wedding to go to today. None of my kids were in it but my nephews were. Here are just a few shots of the bridal party, bride/groom and the cake (no I didn’t make it, the bride’s sister also does cakes). Jorden thought the bride was a Princess and wanted pictures of her in her ‘princess’ dress. ahhh to see the world through little kids’ eyes!

The Happy Couple!

The bridal party entering the reception. My nephews are in the front.

The “Princess” with her followers. Jorden is in front of Benjamin.

The wedding cake.



Jorden finally made it down to the water to see the DUCKS before we left the reception.

So how does Geocaching come into play at a wedding and what is Geocaching?

“Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.”

Well now you know what Geocaching is but how in the world does it come into play at a wedding? Honestly, Geocaching is a bad habit! I had to look up where the wedding was and where the reception was to see if there were any Geocaches along the way! lol We did go to two of them but no luck in finding any caches. :( I have started taking pictures of the kids when we go Geocaching so we can have proof we were looking. Here is a picture of the family right after the wedding at “Lamb Chop's Gold” geocache.

Now I’m not saying the cache is right there but this neat gazebo was so of course I had to use it for a photo op. Doesn’t everyone look thrilled??

Like I said, Geocaching is a bad habit to start! It’s so bad that my parents (who have been traveling all week) were calling me asking ME to look up Geocaches for them!! To see where they have been and if they found any, see my mom’s blog at Dawn… A New Day.

A “White Zulu” birthday card

For today’s Featured Stamper, I cased this card: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/470820?cat=500&ppuser=90220.  I flipped the layout so my image could fit. Used cupcake image to make my own design paper for the ‘third’ layer. I say third layer as the black “layers” are all faux. (done with a marker!)

I made this card for a friend who is turning 66 tomorrow. He calls my husband a “White Zulu” as hubby was born and bred in South Africa and is white. It’s a standing joke between the two of them so when I saw The Tribe from Our Craft Lounge, I knew I had to have it just to make him cards!

Fishin’ on the Beach

I have a friend who is taking a vacation soon and plans on fishing the entire time. Thought I’d make him a card using the Limited Supply 224 (shades of blue, grays, greens and sand colors, ribbon/hemp/twine, brads and piercing) and sketch232 from this week over at SCS.

Of course I had to use Bear-ly Fishin’ from Our Craft Lounge. This time though I wanted to change it up a bit as I wanted my bear to be really outdoorsie. So I made him a fishin’ pole from a stick and some hemp twine. The twine is attached to the stick with Helmar Craft Glue. I completely cut the bear’s arm right up to his shoulder so that I could put the pole under his paw. It is attached with a little bit of Helmar Craft Glue to his paw.

Cloud stencil was used for the clouds and MuddPuddles was used for the ‘beach’. I used Montego Bay ‘sand’ for the bear to sit on.
The bear himself is attached to the paper with Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots. The shoe is attached with Helmar Liquid Scrap Dot just to keep it from floating in air. And the twine is held down in the middle with a little bit of Helmar Craft Glue.

The sentiment is stamped on both squares with the ending “day workin’” on the inside. Piercing is done in the corners of the fish strip and brads finish off all the corners.

Design paper is from Cosmo Cricket’s Snorkel line.

Stamps: Bear-ly Fishin'
Paper: Cosmo Cricket, chocolate chip, white
Ink: black, bashful blue
Accessories: spellbinders, prismacolor pencils, odorless mineral spirits, brads, piercing tool, Helmar craft glue, liquid scrap dots, acid free glue, MuddPuddle sand, cloud stencil
Techniques: blending with odorless mineral spirits

Bear-ly Fishin’ Spotlight

This week’s Spotlight set at Our Craft Lounge is Bear-ly Fishin’. A fun little set for that Fisherman in your life.

I did a little technique that I like to call "image cut away". I stamped all the images first before doing any cutting. I used my clouzzle to cut out the squares but only far enough that the bear, tire were still attached to the paper. After using the clouzzle, I went in with my scissors and xacto knife and cut out the unstamped cardstock.

Prismacolor markers were used to color the image. Added crystal effects to the tire. I wanted a fish ‘jumpin' out of the water. The image actually faces the other way when you stamp him so I used a mirror stamp and restamped the fish to face the other way. He also has crystal effects on him to make him look ‘wet’. Cloud stencil was used for the clouds.

I cutout the main cardstock so you could see right inside the card. Cut the saying apart so I could get it to fit in the little space.



Close up of the bear and the saying:

Inside of the card:

Stamp set: Bear-ly Fishin’
paper: Not quite navy, white, design paper
ink: black, bashful blue
accs: clouzzle, crystal effects, xacto knife, cloud stencil, prismacolor markers


ps. If there is enough interest in how I did the card, I will do a tutorial post later this week. Let me know!

Princess Kisa

Wow! A whole week since I last stamped! A lot of that is due to little one not feeling good and us running her to the ER early Wend morning. Luckily we got right in and right out and all she has is an urinary tract infection. You would have thought she was dying the way she was carrying on Tuesday night.

Anyways I managed to do the Featured Stamper today and combined it with the Inspiration. Here is the room I was inspired by as I had to use the Disney Princess stamps I had gotten for little one! (yes, I use my kids stamps)

I cased this card of the featured stamper, Kisa. I changed colors, image. Added notched corners, pearls, faux stitching. Image was watercolored with Prisma watercolor pencils. I added Shimmerz to the dress and her hair. Design paper is DWCV Once upon A Time.

Stamps: Disney Princess by EK Success
Paper: regal rose, not quite navy, DCWV Once upon A Time Mat Stack
Ink: black
Accessories: prismacolor watercolor pencils, shimmerz, pearls, doily punch
Techniques: watercolor

Today's Weather is..... FUNKY!!

I wasn't going to do a post today as I didn't want to take away from Our Craft Lounge blog hop but I wasn't counting on the weather to give me some awesome pictures! So I just had to share.

sky between neighbor house and ours. zoomed in

Before it rained this morning, I saw a funky sky out my window so I went outside with my camera. No, I wasn't the only crazy one outside taking pictures, so was my neighbor! lol But after you see the rest of the pictures, tell me you wouldn't be outside taking them too!

taking off my porch in between the neighbor's and our house, zoomed out.

across the street looking over the neighbor's house.

Now the rain didn't come from these clouds as they moved fast. The sky cleared and then it poured! I've only seen the sky like this once before. It's so odd to see these lines in the clouds.

OLC Blog Hop with an Announcement

Here I am again with another Our Craft Lounge blog hop. BUT this time it’s a special hop and I’m so excited to be in it. Because this hop is also an Announcement Hop.

Our Craft Lounge is announcing their Design Team and I’m honored to be a part of the team! I was so thrilled when Cami asked if I’d like to join the team.

I just had to play with Ducky Days as I was sick this weekend and thought that he might cheer me up some. I combined him with the Featured Stamper on SCS. You can find the card I cased here.

I colored him with prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits. Used a cloud stencil for the sky and landed him in a field of flowers. Of course the silly duck had to step in a puddle!

All the layers are faux just like the cased card. I used an artist pen to outline the edges giving it a look of layered. The flower stamp from the set was stamped on the faux colored layers which were sponged on.


Check out the talented ladies who are a part of Our Craft Lounge design team:

Amber Hillman http://www.ambersantics.blogspot.com/
Beth Silaika http://www.freckledandfun.com/
Carol Halvorson http://www.happinessblooms.blogspot.com/
Charmaine Ikach http://oodabugalley.blogspot.com/2009/0%20...%20g-hop.html
Cindy Lawrence http://onehappystamper.typepad.com/
Deb Felts http://withastampandasong.blogspot.com/
Denise Marzec http://www.thepaperlandscaper.blogspot.com/
Heather McNally http://heathermcnally.blogspot.com/
Holly McMillen http://toyzhaven.blogs.splitcoaststampe ... -blog-hop/
Kendra Wietstock http://kendrawietstock.blogspot.com/
Kisa Peters http://kisaspapercuts.blogspot.com/
Lila Holgate http://lilascreativecorner.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Pam Hooten http://www.pamhooten.blogspot.com/
Valerie Stangle http://valeriestangle.blogspot.com/2009 ... g-hop.html

The OCL Chicks:
Cambria Turnbow http://cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/
Joy Kennedy http://joyofstamping.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Debbie Corbori (OCL Illustrator) http://www.dbdoodle.com/
Marianne Walker (OCL Illustrator) http://www.ilikemarkers.blogspot.com/

Now some fun things to pass on. Did you know that Our Craft Lounge has their own forum? While you are there, check out the OCL Swap that is going on or the OCL sketch where if you are the winner.. .well let’s just say you get a sweet prize but don’t take my word for it… jump over to the OCL forum and check it out! Also each week there is a Spotlight set of the week with this week’s spotlight on the set BookWorm.