Monday Science Project !

Hey All,

My Husband has recently taken a three month work contract.  He is retired but still likes to keep his hand in.  So I am really appreciating the alone time. lol.  But don't tell him that.  I can spend one hour house cleaning and the rest of the time in my craft room. 

Today's project was one I had been wanting to try for a little while.  It is a simple watercolor project but for some reason I could never get it to turn out just right.  Well, I think this time I got it right.

Have a look and then we can talk about what I did -

 

The base colour is Pool Party!  I cut two bases last week so it was on my desk.  (although the color looks washed out in this pic) The focal image was on Water color Paper.

 

 

I used clear block E and pressed Pool Party over it all.  Then I added Marina Mist in several places.  Just laying the stamp pad directly onto the block.  I then added Bermuda Bay Ink to the outside and several places in the middle.  I had prepared my Water color paper by cutting it to 5" x 3 3/4" .  I then misted the block until the ink started to blend.  This part takes a little practise and very quick hands.

 

I then quickly turned over the block and placed it on the paper.  Try to get it centered ok?  Then I pressed the block down until I saw that the ink was covering the paper completely.  I  let it sit for a minute or two so the ink would sink in to the paper.  I lifted the block up and used a piece of paper towel to blot off the excess color.  I used my Heat tool to dry the paper. 

 

I embossed the flower image from Butterfly Basics in White embossing powder.  I used my Aqua Painter to color in the flower with Bermuda Bay and Mellow Moss ink.  This enhanced the color and made the flower stand out.  I added Tip Top Taupe ribbon to the bottom and a greeting from Wetlands. 

 

I love how this turned out and am going to use this technique for my next class. 

 

So that's it for me today!  Hope you are enjoying the posts!

 

Mad Scientist Hugs!

Botanical Blooms!

Good Day Stampers!


Well I'm back in my happy place aka the card room and creating once again.  I find though, if I've been away from it sometimes my mojo just disappears.  It takes awhile for me to find it again but slowly I get into it.

I also find when I get a new stamp set it takes me awhile to learn how to use it.  I mean it's not like there is a special way to stamp, I mean that I need to play with it awhile before I finally start to have fun with it.  Do you find that also? 

I guess we all need inspiration and sometimes Pintrest provides that right?  Hours spent looking at all the beautiful creations.  Wow just Wow! 

But for some reason Botanical Blooms is not one of those sets.  I just stared at the thinlits and suddenly things started clicking.  Today is another sympathy card and I remained in the muted color family.

Have a look -

 

The card base is Pool Party and the accent colors are Whisper White and Garden Green.  Love the framelits that came with the set.  I haven't used the stamps yet but I will.  The framelits make such beautiful flowers, I'm in love! 

 

I cut out the flowers and then used a sponge daubber to add some Pool Party to the middle.  Then I cut out the Stamens and added a rhinestone.  The leaves were cut out in Garden Green.  The banner was from the Number of Years bundle in the Spring Mini.  I used the greeting from a retired set called Bloom with Hope! 

 

Here is a closeup of the flowers.  Just a hint of color in the center.  Soft, Muted and very pretty.

 

 

Hope you like it. 

 

Don't forget you only have a couple of days to sign up for Paper Pumpkin to receive your special April edition.  You won't be sorry I promise. 

 

Remember You must sign up before April 10th to receive your April Paper Pumpkin with the extra stamp set.  Click Here to sign up.  Go to shop now and scroll down to Paper Pumpkin and sign up! 

 

Beautiful Hugs! 

Hello!

Hi there Loyal readers! 

Today I have someone who has not visited this blog in quite awhile!  I like to welcome back, Katherine!


"Good day Katherine, and how have you been?"

"I've been well, and thank you for having me back!"

"So tell us what you've been up to!"

"Well I've been quite busy travelling and visiting with family, getting some relaxation time now that I am home and trying to get over a nasty bug that I picked up on my travels!"

"It's wonderful that you are back and we hope you stay awhile!"



Seriously all kidding aside I am home in Newfoundland and just now starting to get back to business.  I have been working on a new class for my stampers which I will share over the next couple of days. 

I also have been playing catch up with my thank you cards.  These cards are for all my stampers who placed an order from January through to March.  So look for that in the mail early next week.  Almost got them all done , and there were quite a few stampers who took advantage of the Sale A Bration offerings.

Unfortunately while I was away, several of my friends lost someone close to them.  I was unable to make cards while in Ottawa but since I have been home I want to remedy that.  Today's share is for a friend who lost her dad recently.

I don't enjoy making Sympathy cards but I do enjoy making a special card to send.  Does that make sense to you?  


So today's share is one of these cards.

 

The cardstock used is Mint Macaron and Whisper White.  I was looking for a soft muted color combo and this spoke to me.  I recently purchased the Botanical Blooms stamp set with the matching thinlits and knew immediately what I wanted.  I also added a piece of Tip Top Taupe ribbon on the bottom. 

 

It is a simple card but when I make a sympathy card I'm not looking for busy or loud. 

 

 

Now on to business! 

 

 

Stampin' Up! has sent out it's One Millionth Paper Pumpkin kit and to celebrate they have included an extra stamp set in the April kit.

 

This paper was in last months kit.  If you enlarge the pic you can see what it says, but esentially it says that they are sending a special gift this month inside the April box.  If you are interested in receiving Aprils Paper Pumpkin you  must subscribe before April 10th so you only have a few days to get that done.  You can subscribe for only one month at a time or try it for three months at a reduced rate. 

Paper Pumpkin is a monthy kit that arrives at your door and has everything you need to start creating the projects inside.  It changes every month and it is a surprise.  I have never been disappointed lol.  And I love surprises.

To sign up just go to  my business website Here.  Then go to shop now and scroll down the list to Paper Pumpkin.  I know you will enjoy this kit so give it a try.!


I will be back soon with some more cards.  One last thing I would like to add is,  thank you to the Blog Hogger, aka my sister, Colleen.  I love your new game and the help on this blog.  Keep it up you have some fans out there my lovely sister.  They enjoy your nonsense, as do I! 

 

Glad to be back hugs!

 

With Sympathy!

Hi there Stampers,

Recently one of my friends lost her mom.  I don't like making Sympathy cards but unfortunately they are necessary! But making a card for a friend is different! 

There is a process involved.  I think in some way it makes you more sensitive to the sorrow of others.  You focus on making the perfect one and a part of you goes into it.  It's not about the time involved but  more the crafting of something worthwhile that will let the friend know that you really care. 

You pick a color and then a stamp and then decide how to place the pieces to make it look good. You really want to do your best work.   I chose a rich color, Blackberry Bliss.  I decided to use watercolor paper and to use my aqua painter to add some color to the flowers.  I like to water color because it is more complicated than just coloring with a marker.  I layer several colors to get the exact look and that takes time. I also like to make it understated.   So here is what I made  -

 

I used Gorgeous Grunge and Hardwood stamped in Smoky Slate.  I then stamped my image in Tuxedo Black ink using Bloom with Hope.  I used a small amount of retired ribbon at the top of a  two layer banner.  I added the sentiment on the bottom with the same black ink.  With the addition of three pearls you make it a little more special. 

 

 

I hope you find inspiration here and sometimes the time to read my posts.  This blog is not always about business but  my business is about people!  My stampers are my friends and they mean a lot to me!

 

Sympathetic hugs!

 

 

Oh Happy Day!

Good Day my Crafty Friends!

I am sitting in my favorite place right now and thinking about all the things I want/need to accomplish before my hubby hauls me off camping,

I had a productive weekend - got all the windows cleaned inside and out - I know, how great is that.  Well some of you wouldn't agree but since I couldn't do that the last two years it feels good to finally get that done.  It only took me two days with some resting in between. 

We went out to supper on Friday and again on Saturday so no cooking yay!  Didn't hit the craft room for a couple of days so I am recharged and ready to go.

I have announced my next class on Facebook and am e-mailing my customer base later today.  Classes have been changed from weekends to week nights cause no one including me wants to be indoors on the weekend lol.

My next class is called "It's A Man's World!"  (we all know that isn't true but lets keep up the pretense ok?).  This class will focus on the men or man in our lives.  Lots of earth tones and not a flower in sight! (sigh)  Faux Patina is my chosen technique and I will be posting pic's later in the week as I design this class.

Anyway on to my share for today - 

I was looking through my cards and found a couple of cards that I haven't shared yet so here we go -

 

This was a card I sent to one of my stampers who had lost a loved one.  I used the new Hardwood stamp found in the Spring Mini (it's carried over in the new Catalog thank goodness). 

 

I stamped it in Versamark ink on Baked Brown Sugar card stock and used White embossing powder.   I added Petite Petals stamped in Crisp Cantaloupe and the Bird Builder Punch and Pistachio Pudding card stock for the leaves. 

 

The sentiment is from Love and Sympathy and the framelits I used were Apothecary Accents and Labels Collections.  Added a few small pearls and it was done.  I love the Hardwood stamp because there are so many possibilities here.  A must have for next year for sure!

 

This one is a case from Pintrest.  I believe  Pam Gale did this one in a class just after Christmas.  I love Gorgeous Grunge and the look of the window.  The flower is from Flower Shop and the Leaves were cut out with the Little Leaves sizzlet die (retiring) in Vellum.  The frame as made using Designer Frames (retiring) by cutting out the middle. 

 

The colors were Early Espresso and Pistachio Pudding accented with Smoky Slate.  Nice color combo don't you think?

 

This last one was from one of my Stephenville stampers, Lisa Payne.  The lovely ladies are still sending me cards to let me know that they are thinking of me.  Thanks Lisa it means a lot to me that you all miss me!  xoxo

 

So I'm starting Physio tomorrow and can't wait to get at it.  Right now I am in a holding pattern but that is changing.  I will soon be dancing and crafting up a storm.  Well dancing up a small draft maybe lol!  Wish me luck!

 

Endless hugs!

Clearance Rack Updated!

Hello Everyone!


How is your week going?  Mine has been great!  I have been busy in the craft room cleaning up and creating.  Just what I needed! 

I have a share for you today but I wanted to mention that Stampin' Up! had updated the clearance rack so that means lots of goodies for you!  You can find the link here or click on the link on the right hand side of this blog that says Shop Now 24/7 to have a look.  Enjoy!

Now on to the card I have for you today.  I cased this card from one I found somewhere.  I seem to have lost the link and only had the picture and I will apologise right now to the lovely stamper who gave me the inspiration.

Here you go -

 

I used Elegant Eggplant for my base and ran the Whisper white border piece through the Big Shot using the Framed Tulips embossing folder (soon to be retired).  The Art insert was made using Crumb Cake ink and  the Hardwood stamp featured in the Spring Mini.

 

After this was stamped I inked up the flowers from Love and Sympathy with Perfect Plum and Elegant Eggplant markers.  For the stems I used Gumball Green (another retiring color, will miss this one for sure)  I did this three times inking my stamp up with the markers each time.  Then I cleaned the stamp and just colored in the stems with Gumball Green and stamped several times to get the grassy background.

 

After all my stamping was done I broke out the sponges.  The sky was sponged with Soft Sky (of course) and then the edges were sponged with Marina Mist very lightly.  The hardwood was sponged with Crumb Cake ink and the grass with Gumball Green ink.  I added my greeting and I was done.

 

Overall a very nice effect!  I made this one a sympathy card because sadly,  I  always seem to  need one way too often. 

So that's it for me today, short and sweet!  Oh and don't forget I have a class coming up this Sunday May 4th.  Please register to hold your place at the table. 

 

Artsy hugs!

Update!

Hi there Stampers,

Just wanted to check in and give you a little update.  I wanted to let you know that I have not been posting because I have been having a lot of trouble with my wonky back.

If you read my blog you know I have mentioned it over the years.  Well, I saw a surgeon on Monday and it looks like I will be heading down the surgery trail.  I am not exactly delighted but am somewhat relieved that this will finally be taken care of.  It has been a 20 year pain in the ass back and this last few months have been the worst it has ever been.

 I didn't really want to mention it at all and I have been trying to keep up with my commitments but it has been an up hill battle.  I hate to admit defeat but maybe it is time to level with you, my readers. 

So if I am a bit sketchy with  my posts please understand it is not because I don't want to craft it is because I can't on that day.

Now with all that horrible stuff out of the way I am rewarding you with a new card.  I had a newbies class last week and this is one of the cards I  made for them.

Have a look -

I used Crisp Cantaloupe, Soft Sky and Pistachio Pudding for my colors.  I used "Thoughts and Prayers" for my stamp set.  I added some Naturals Ribbon and a little flag at the top, a half  Lacy Paper doily and some texture with Gorgeous Grunge. 

It was simple but nice.

Thank you hugs!