When it Snows it Pours?

Hi Stampers.  It has been a wild and woolly February here in OK.  We had a blizzard the first week of February with 12 1/2" of snow, another big snow the 2nd week (about 6") with temps in the single digits for several days, and this week it has been as warm as 75!  At least it is is sunny and mild today.

I had the unfortunate business of creating sympathy cards over the last week for several people.  Here is what I came up with.

click image to make it larger

Being that it was a sympathy card, I wanted to keep it clean and relatively simple.  I used Marina Mist and Very Vanilla as my colors.  The stamp set is Clearly For You from the Occasions Mini and I added a piece of the Chantilly(oops!) Victoria Crochet Trim as my only embellishment.  I though they turned out really pretty.

I also had to keep them easily replicable as my gals came last weekend, AND my dad was in the hospital.  It was quite a busy week.  I hope this week is a little less hectic. 

That's all for now.  I hope you have a lovely weekend.  Take time to stamp something.  You'll be glad you did.  Remember, if I can stamp, you can, too!

Not Really a Valentine, Yet...

Hi, Stampers!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  It was way too busy in my world.  There were chores to do, errands to run, and my dad is in the hospital.  But I did mange to have some time to stamp.

My gals were scheduled to come stamps this weekend.  It was a lot of fun, and I really needed the time to relax a bit.  If you weren't here, you missed a lot of fun and some cute (imho) projects.

Here is the "Not Really a Valentine" card we made.  I totally got this idea from the Occasions Mini catty.  I also saw a video on how to make the medallion here on Christina Bagne's blog.

Stamp Set:  Take a Spin; Cardstock: Real Red, Very Vanilla,
Pretty In Pink: Accessories:  Spinner Hands, Satin Ribbon in Pretty in PInk
First Edition DSP, Love Impressions Rub Ons (inside),
 Scallop Circle #2 Die, and the Big Shot

What a fun card.  I thought that image in this stamp set *could* be for a Valentine card, but it could be for everyday, too.  The spinner hands make it so much more fun!  They are so reasonable, too!  You get 12 for $3.95!  What a deal!

I will try to post the other projects later this week.  Until next time, remember, if I can stamp, you can, too!

Clearly Adorned

Hello Stampers.  I hope you are warm and cozy.  We had snow here again today.  Another 6" of the white stuff.  You guys have to realize that we normally get ice and if we get 3" of snow all at once, it's a BIG DEAL.  Oh!  Did I mention that it's COLD!  It was 7 this morning.  It is supposed to dip below 0 tonight.  It hasn't been that cold here since 1996!  Ok....I know you didn't come for a weather update.  The point I was making was that I was off work and had time to post for you again.

I got some new goodies on Monday night. I had ordered a Simply Adorned charm a while back and one of the new stamp sets in the Occasions Mini just seemed to beg to be used for an insert.  Here is what I came up with.

I just love those little birds!  I stared with Crumb Cake cardstock, stamped the background image in thesame color, the birds in Early Essspreso, added a Cherry Cobbler heart with a few Basic Pearls and there you have it.  I just love it, don't you?

Well, I have to head back to the office tomorrow.  Stay warm and remember, if I can stamp, you can, too!

Inspiration Challenge

Happy weekend, Stampers!  It has been a lovely weekend here.  No snow, sunny skies, melting snow.  Of course the weatherman said it won't last.  We are supposed to get another "significant" winter storm on Tuesday.  We have already set records for snow accumulation here in good ole Oklahoma!  We had 12.1" with the blizzard on Monday and another 2 or 3 inches on Friday.  Our side roads are still snow packed and probably won't be clear before the next storm comes in.  Oh well.  It looks like another day or two away from work and more stamping time!  :)

Speaking of stamping time, a group of local demos get together once a month and stamp.  Well, since the roads were dangerous, we had a virtual get together this month.  One of our "projects" was an inspiration challenge.  Here's the inspiration picture.

I just loved the glass bottles and jars, the flowers and the colors.  Here is what I came up with.

It is a bit darker overall than what I had in mind, but I just couldn't find a better color for the cardbase.   I kind of started this one from the top down.  I knew what set I wanted to use as soon as I saw the picture.  I used A Slice of Life, a hostess set from the Occasions Mini.  I water colored it with classic stamp pads and a blender pen.  This is only about my 3rd attempt at watercoloring, so it's not perfect....  Next I wanted to incorporate the color of the wood so I sponged Soft Suede over More Mustard cardstock.  I tinted some white grosgrain ribbon with my Melon Mambo marker and attached it all to a cardbase of Chocolate Chip that I ran through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice folder.  The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes on watercolor paper (as is the image), punched out with the Word Window punch and mounted on a Melon Mambo Modern Label punch. 

I hope you like it.  Remember, if I can stamp, you can, too!