Sunday, November 26, 2006

Not Christmas cards

I got this neat set of clear stamps at A.C. Moore when I was in PA visiting my sister. The stamps are by Rubber Soul. These are just two of the little sets. I think the crab is just too cute! Both card ideas are from the December issue of Cards magazine. I just picked a layout I liked picked out the stamps and went for it. Paper on the crab card is by Memory Box. Paper on the frog card is Basic Grey except for the green strip on the left - that's Memory Box. The zigzag stamp is by Inky Antics. I have no idea where I got those buttons.

Making Christmas cards

I've been busy this weekend. I made lots of Christmas cards. This is a PSX stamp and I used the reverse negative technique. You just stamp the same image two ways: blank ink on white CS then white ink on black CS. Then you cut diagonally and that's it. I think it's striking. These two cards are the same except for th colors. Printed paper is by Memory Box, solid CS is by Prism. The snowman is a brass stencil that I dry embossed, colored a little with Prismacolor pencils and then I went back over it with translucent embossing paste and a little (a lot) of glitter. Sentiment stamp is by justjohanna. I can't decide which color combo I like best. I'm leaning towards the green one, though. This was a really quick card. Alpha is Stamping Mathilda by justjohanna. Partridge stamps are by justjohanna. PP is My Mind's Eye, Signature Suite, "Happiness is Bliss". Isn't it yummy? This card took me a while to do. The ornate Christmas tree stamp is by justjohanna. Stamped with Versafine black ink, then colored with Prismacolor pencils - many, many layers! Background paper is Kaleidoscope. Sentiment is by justjohanna.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Christmas is coming!

So I got into the Christmas mood by making some Christmas cards with my new stamps from justjohanna. I gold-embossed this tree and sentiment. I love this fancy tree. The next card I make with it will have lot of sparkles! I love these little cardinal birds. They had to be red on the blue card. You can't tell, but the word "the" is in blue glitter. Each little snowflake on the background has a bit of glitter on it. I love this ornament stamp. I used some of the alcohol-inked transparency I made last week for the ornament. This paper is from DCWV. I actually lifted this card idea from Johanna. 'Course she probably lifted it from someone else...? I used the fancy tail stamp for the corners and then the fancy frame for the center. The sentiment is actually a horizonal stamp, but I used a masks to turn it into a vertical sentiment.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Using my new stamps

I love, love, LOVE this giant cupcake stamp. I used Wild Asparagus papers on this birthday card for my friend, Gig. I got my order of stamps from justjohanna, and so I made some cards. YAY! I made these at our Saturday Craft Coven group. No, not the Coven, it's SAS. The A stands for WHAT?! Nevermind. Here's that cupcake stamp again, only this time I used Kaleidoscope papers. I also used the cake background stamp. I love that huge stamp! Of course, I snuck a little sparkle in on this card. I put red Stickles on the candle flame. And isn't this snowman just the greatest, cutest thing? He reminds me of a marshmallow guy. I love his swirly arms! All paper is Wild Asparagus. I used Johanna's swirly background stamp on the snowman and the snowflake trio on his hat. The sentiment is a horizontal one, but I masked and made it a vertical one. I got carried away with the snowflakes on the background. I started out with a few, then added one more, then one more, then next thing you know, you've got a blizard! Yikes!

Finally, my Muse is back

I made these cards this last week. Nothing fancy, but a least I MADE something. I was having a terrible time. I guess my Muse was in Jamaica. Anyhow... Here's a little Hello card. Paper is by Foof-A-La, sentiment is Rubber Stampede. Flower stamps are by Outlines and hard to tell, but I used some Stickles on the flowers, of course. Every card needs some sparkle. Isn't this turkey adorable?? He's a Lasting Impressions brass stencil that I dry embossed, chalked, and then applied transparent embossing paste over the top. He's very shiny! Sentiment is by Memory Box. Paper is really cute with turkeys and gobble, gobble on it. Unfortunately, I used the part of the paper with the manufacturer on it, so I don't know who makes it. I got it at Tall Mouse Crafts.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

So why haven't I blogged any art?

Good question. I've been in a slump. I've tried all the tricks I've tried before, but nothing has worked so far. I've reorganized my craft space in hopes that that would do it, but nothing yet. I WANT to make art, I just can't seem to get it down on paper. I tried coloring images, but nothing would come after that. Just coloring. I'm not satisfied with that, but I can't fight it. It will come SOMEtime.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Sunday, November 05, 2006

I finally did it!

I submitted two cards for publication. One card is done with justjohanna rubber stamps and the other one is with Rubber Soul and Rosie's Roadshow stamps. I don't think I can post pictures of the cards if I've sent them for publication. I'm unfamiliar with the whole process, so I'll keep you posted.