Good morning!  What a few days it has been.  I’m traveling with Dave, Mr. Rubbernecker, to the Heirloom Stamp Show in York, PA.  It has been quite an adventure, and I thought I would share our trip with you via pictures.

When leaving Kentucky the other day, I happened to mention to Dave that there was a castle in Versailles on the way to Lexington.  Off the interstate we went, in search of the The Castle Post f/k/a Lexington Castle.

We drove on into West Virginia that first day, making sure we the hotel we picked to stay at was not at an exit after our favorite breakfast spot

aaaaaaahhhhhhhh pecan pancakes from Cracker Barrel!!!!!!

Yesterday as we traveled, there was a mission and a time frame that we needed to be in.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Dave is quite the history enthusiast, and always has an interesting fact to tell me about our nation’s history.  I couldn’t have asked for a better tour guide around Gettysburg.  My final shot before leaving  . . .

seemed so appropriate.

Good morning!  I’m still busy making samples to take to York.  I have until this afternoon to finish up just a few more.  I still need to pack, but other than that I think I’m good!   I sure hope to see some of you at the Stamp Festival!

Today is Rubbernecker Blogger Challenge #3.  The challenge today is to use embellishments - lots and lots of embellishments.   You can check out the Challenge and where to upload your own creations on the Rubbernecker Stamps Blog.

Oh my BADness, I almost forgot!  (sittin’ on the edge of the couch in excitement)  Check out the new Customer Spotlight on the Rubbernecker Stamps Blog too!  We are so excited to be showcasing our customers and the very first Customer in the Spotlight is Michelle Adams a/k/a shellapoo on SCS!  CONGRATS Michelle!

I decided that since I was making booth samples, I might as well incorporate the challenge requirements.  This is another newly released Christmas image from Rubbernecker.

The image was colored with Copic Markers and then cut out.  For both the card background and the image background, I stamped in Snow Cap pigment ink and then embossed with clear EP.  I wanted snow for the penguin to stand in, so I covered the bottom part of the image panel with Tulip White Puffy Paint and then heat set.  My embellishments are the brads, ribbon, the puffy paint, (and I’m even going to maintain that the embossing and white dots are too).

• Stamps: Stamp Oasis Little Lovins’ Christmas Collection: Christmas Mini #2 SKU:516 525 526 527 SO, and Winter Holiday Collection:  Snowflake Background
  SKU:1200 SO; and Rubbernecker Winter Holiday Collection: Holiday Greetings SKU:22-05 from Rubbernecker Stamp Company
• Paper: BasicGrey Figgy; SU Baja Breeze and Always Artichoke; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White
• Ink: Ranger Adirondack Pitch Black, Archival Jet Black and Snow Cap Pigment; SU Baja Breeze
• Accessories: Copic Markers; Spellbinders Petite Ovals; Ranger Clear EP, Inkssentials White Opaque Pen; SU Scallop Punch; Venture Mounting Tape; Tsukineko Sponge Dauber; Tulip White Puffy Paint; Brads; Ribbon

I hope everyone has a great day!  I don’t know if I’ll be checking in again until after the show, but who knows – maybe I’ll have something interesting to show you!

Good morning!  I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend. I myself, did nothing – absolutely nothing.  I sat on the couch in my pajamas, took naps and watched movies . . .  Bliss I tell you, pure bliss!  Of course, I have to pay for those two days today.  I have errands to run, finish up some cards I should have done over the weekend – and post today, and begin preparations to go out of town.  This I what happens when you are lazy . . . too much crap to catch up on!

I did want to do a little fun stamping this morning, and checked in on the Try a New Technique Challenge on Splitcoast.  I have to say that since Lynn has taken over (no offense Beth), but the challenges really do test me!  Today’s challenge, Batik - The Colorwash Way, is actually the very same thing I’ve been doing, only calling it Faux Bleach.  The difference with today’s challenge is, however, that Lynn used watercolor paper.  Interesting!  I had to try it!  AND, it does give a different effect because the color wash soaks into the paper leaving a darker background.

Anyhoo, chores beckon, so here’s my card!

I stamped the silhouette on watercolor paper and clear embossed.  Using Ranger Color Wash, I misted the image and then placed it between two pieces of printer paper.  With my iron set on cotton, no steam, I ironed the paper to remove the embossing.  To finish my card, I stamped Flannel Plaid (because it just goes with everything) on my background panels.

• Stamps: SU Upsy Daisy and Flannel Plaid
• Paper: Canson Watercolor Paper; SU Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze
• Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black and Tim Holtz Distress Embossing; SU Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze
• Accessories: Ranger Clear EP; and Red Pepper, Stream and Butterscotch Color Wash; SU Scallop Punch and Ribbon; Spellbinders Petite Oval Nestabilities; Venture Foam Tape

Enjoy your day!

Good afternoon!  Yes, I’m running a little behind this morning.  Miss Ellie needed to go to the vet this morning for her annual check up.  She was happy to go for a car ride, but none too happy with me when we arrived at the vets’ office.  I don’t think she’ll come running the next time I shout “car ride - let’s go.”

When I got back from my “little errand,” I checked out the Ways to Use it Challenge on Splitcoast.  I’ve tried to get to the challenges all week, and I did get to the Sketch, but today’s was just perfect.  The challenge today is to use a charm on your project.  A few years ago I bought tons of those little dollar charm bracelets at the flea market and tore them all apart.  I have a stash of charms.  However, all the new ones that I just purchased at Tuesday Morning, I can’t find.  CRS?  Maybe!  Unorganized?  Maybe!  Just really forgetful?  You bet!  Anyhoo, here’s my card today.

I colored the image with Copic Markers and then cut the panels for the image with my square Nestabilities.  I sanded the edges of all the background paper and added dots with a white opaque pen.

• Stamps: Harvest Blessings by Anna Wight from Whipper Snapper Designs
• Paper: Memory Box Homespun Collection; SU Riding Hood Red
• Ink: Tsukineko Brilliance Graphite Black; Ranger Archival Jet Black
• Accessories: Copic Markers; Classic and Scallop Square Spellbinders Nestabilities; SU Scallop Punch; Ranger Inkssentials White Opaque Pen; Ribbon; Charm; Venture Foam Tape; Sanding Block

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Happy Friday!  I have some exciting (well I think it is exciting) new today.  Yesterday Rubbernecker started a company blog!  Can you see me jumping up and down?  I’ve heard from so many of you inquiring about the Rubbernecker Blog Challenges and if we were going to start them again.  Well, yes we are!  Only now they will be hosted on the RN Blog.  Not only will you be able to find the challenges there, but it will also be the place for tutorials, techniques, product info, our show schedule, and chats with the Design Team.  Please stop by Rubbernecker Stamps - Company Blog and say hi!

Because I worked all day yesterday on the blog and other matters, I didn’t have time to stamp.  I started down to the studio this morning when my phone rang.  Kate was having car problems – MOM to the RESCUE!  See, they still need us even when they think they don’t!

I was intrigued by the Limited Supply Challenge on Splitcoast today, and needed to play along.  The object of today’s challenge to create a card using a technique with only paper, ink and stamps.  I took that to mean no acrylic paint, embossing powders, fancy sprays, etc. - just ink!  To make things even more interesting, while having my daily blog fix this morning, I saw Beate’s weekend sketch challenge.  I’ve never played along in Beate’s challenges and today just decided I needed a little fun.

Anyhoo, here’s my card today.

I decided to make the larger panel in Beate’s sketch the image panel, even though Beate used designer paper in this area and she also made the small panel her image.  Brilliant actually!  To make the background, I took out my Ranger craft sheet and down the center I swiped three ink colors directly from the pad, Mustard Seed, Broken China and Fired Brick.  I then misted the ink swipes with water until beads started to form on the craft sheet.   Taking my piece of white paper, I laid the paper down in the middle of the ink and picked it right back up.  I then dried the paper with a heat tool.  This step was repeated until I had picked up most of the ink from the craft sheet.  It is important however to the paper dry between adding layers.  This adds interest to the background.  By the way, the sentiment panel was created the same way.  After creating the background, the images were stamped and more color was added to the edges using a blending tool.  For more interest I distressed the edges, and then stitched the panel to the actual card base.

• Stamps: Sentiment and Tim Holtz Nature’s Discovery by Stampers Anonymous from Rubbernecker Stamp Company
• Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Scrapperdashery Love is Patient; SU Barely Banana
• Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Mustard Seed, Broken China, Fired Brick and Dusty Concord Distress, Archival Jet Black and Coffee
• Accessories: Ranger Craft Sheet, Mini Mister, Inkssentials Blending Tool; Venture Foam Tape; Sewing Machine; Tonic Tim Holtz Distress Tool; Ribbon

Have a great day!