Happy New Years Eve!!!

Today, I am trying to get ready for a party we are having tonight. It first started out with about 30 people and now I think we are up to 50-60. Just a few friends and neighbors to help us celebrate the new year. Well, I have to make some more food for tonight, so I'd better get going. I promise I will post a few new projects that I recently completed, as soon as the holidays settle down. Till then I hope everyone has a great New Years!!!

It's Been A Longtime

I bet most of you thought I fell off the face of the earth!! It's been almost a year and a half since I've posted anything on this blog. So let me catch-up on things.... I just couldn't stand trying to post to a blog using dail-up. It took me forever to upload anything. So about a month ago we bought a new PC and got high speed internet. It's like night and day and I love it. So maybe now I can start posting here again (no promises). Well, both of our daughters have since graduated from College and have great jobs. My oldest, Tracy, is engaged and will be getting married on September 19, 2009. So we are up to our eyeballs in wedding plans. Last February I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, mostly just to support my habit. I have had a few workshops and it's a lot of fun. I'm still working a full time job for the US Army and it's going great. My DH just had a hernia operation and was off from work for a few weeks and is doing great. I think that's the high points, really nothing exciting. I will be uploading some cards and samples that have recently finished and get them posted very soon.

Water Color Class

Sorry for not posting anything for awhile, it's been a crazy summer.

A few weeks ago I attended a water color class. We used SU water color crayons on each card, I think this is my favorite color media.

The card to the left, we used the new SU Zoofari stamp set, Hugs & Wishes set and Polka Dots & Paisley for the background. We stamped the image on watercolor paper with stazon and then used an aqua painter and watercolor crayons. CS is Barley Banana, Lavender Lace and Elegant Eggplant

For the card on the right, we used the Serene Sunflower set. CS is Barley Banana and Choc. Chip. With this technique we colored the stamp with watercolor crayons then spritz it with water, then stamped the image onto watercolor paper.

My favorite technique is using the aqua painter and coloring the image. I think you have more control with shading this way.

Well that's all for now, I hope to post again real soon. Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Masculine Cards - Just in time for Fathers Day

I finally made it back..... Summertime is a very busy time.

Below are several cards that can be used for the Man in your live.

Since Fathers Day is tomorrow, I thought I would post some masculine cards that are quick and easy to make.

If you like the Moose card, I used the SU set "Pines", but hurry I think it's retiring.

Here are a few more cards....

Hope you have a great weekend and Happy Fathers Day to all you Dads out there.

It's Our Anniversary, 23 years, Oh My!!!!

I totally forgot to tell you, It's our 23rd Wedding Anniversary. 23 years with the same wonderful man, how did I do it? I know, one day at a time, LOL. Just kidding..... HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Steve, I love you !!!!

Great Stationery Set

OK, I know I said I would show you some more faux finishes, but I have to show you this cute little stationery set. It was made at a Stamping Festival a few weeks ago. You know, the one I couldn't attend because are plans got changed and we had to go to Virginia Tech on the same weekend. Well, I still got all of the supplies from the festival and assembled them when I got home. Thanks to one of my good friends, Sherry, who stamped the images and brought my supplies to me.

It's really very simple, you take a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 CS and score it at 2 1/2" on the long side. This makes your pocket on the inside for your stationery item. Also, score at 5 1/2" on the short side of your CS (middle), this will let you fold the set in half making a folder with a pocket. This set is done in SU's Marigold Morning CS. Now, take a piece of Very Vanilla CS, 2 1/2 x 5 1/2 and stamp a background on it. This one has the SU Weathered BG stamp. Attach that to a coordinating color (True Thyme used here) 2 3/4 x 5 1/2, and attach to your folded CS.

In this set we used SU's Serene Sunflower stamp set. We stamped the message on the left side and on a scrap piece of very vanilla cs, we stamped two of the sunflowers and three of the leaves. We used marigold morning and more mustard ink, for the flower and choc. chip for the center of the flower. For the leaves we used true thyme ink. Now, cut out each flower and leaf, assemble them on the front of your folder. On the right side of the folder punch a small slot, making sure you catch the inside pocket as well. This is were a piece of ribbon will go to tie your set closed. That's the outside, now look at the inside.


In this set we made four coordinating cards. We used very vanilla CS, standard size, and stamped the sunflower image on each one. The sentiment is the warmest regards set, each one has a different saying, Happy Birthday, Thank you, With Sympathy and Congratulations. The set also has four medium Kraft envelopes for each card. Now, you take the ribbon, here we used SU's 1/4" grosgrain stitched true thyme ribbon, and slip it through the slots and tie closed. Viola, your done. Simple and very cute. Nice little gift to give co-workers, teachers and friends. I was think about making these for Christmas gifts with a snowflake theme.

Well, it's time to get some housework done and I have to take my Mom to see my Dad after lunch. My Dad is in a rehab center for a few weeks trying to recover and build his strength up from his bout of pneumonia. See you soon.

I'm Back !!!!!

Sorry I haven't posted anything lately, I have been very busy with running to Virginia Tech twice in the past three weeks, my father going to the hospital for phnemonia, planting the garden and mowing grass. Not to mention my PC is sooooo sloooow it takes forever to upload pics. I'm trying to save some money to buy a new PC, but I keep buying stamping stuff instead. I just can't help myself LOL.

But, I did find time to attend a stamping class last week. The class was all about faux finishes. This card is faux leather and a great masculine card for Father's Day.

First, you take a piece of white CS and cover it with small torn pieces of tan masking tape. Cover the entire piece and trim the edges. Then take a creamy carmel stamp pad and use a brayer or just take the stamp pad and rub a light coat of ink over the masking tape. Then take a chocolate chip stamp pad and do the same thing. This brings out the contrast against the tape. After you've done this, take clear embossing powder and cover the entire piece before it dries. Then use your heat gun to set. Really simple and it looks great. In this card I used Kraft, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla CS. The image is SU's Noble Deer and Sincere Salutation sets. I used clear embossing powder on the deer also, just to give it some deepth. That's it.

I will be posting a few more cards with faux finishes this weekend. We did a mother of pearl, linen, faux stitching and made our own tags that looked like they have a metal rim. I think I like the leather look the best.

O yea, I want to thank Lynn Black (aka. stampinlynn) from SCS for sending me a Birthday RAK. It was such a nice surprise to get a birthday card from someone who doesn't even know you, Thanks Lynn. Love the glitter.....

OK it's 11:30 pm and I have to go to work tomorrow, so I'd better sign off for now.