Good Thursday morning!  I’ve got to tell you that so many exciting things have happened this week and I’m just bursting at the seams to tell . . .  only I can’t just yet!

I finally got to work in the studio late yesterday afternoon.  My card today is for the Crafty Secrets Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.  I love this weekly challenge . . .  it has become my favorite actually!  This week’s challenge is to emboss.  Since I can’t dry emboss, I decided to work with UTEE.  The only thing is, I experimented a bit and came out without something totally different than  what I had planned on or even expected.

I stamped the Santa image in cocoa on watercolor paper and lightly color washed the image with Ranger Distress Reinkers.  Once the painting was dry, I sponged Old Paper Distress Ink over the entire image to age the paper, and die cut/embossed with Spellbinders Classic Circles.  After the image was die cut, I began applying layer after layer of UTEE.  I probably had 4 layers built up when I decided to go one more.  I stamped on some embossing ink, applied Gold Perfect Pearls and then sprinkled on another layer of UTEE.  While still heating the UTEE, I continued to sprinkle on more.  I worked the Gold Perfect Pearls out to the ends and it looked like the edges were gold polished.  However, this is where I took the turn.  Once the UTEE had cooled, I decided to crack it.  Well  . . . . Santa’s face cracked right off!  Instead of melting the UTEE again (which would have been the obvious solution) I decided to peel the UTEE off the image.  What I had left was an image that feels like it’s coated in wax.  It is so cool!!!!  You can still see some of the UTEE and Perfect Pearls on the image, but in the process of peeling it all away . . . the paper crumpled and creased!  It looks even older now! 

At this point I had all this gold UTEE and nothing to do with it.  Remembering some small bottles I bought back in the summer, I grabbed one and filled it with the UTEE making the UTEE an embellishment.  HAH how cool was that!

• Stamps:  Vintage Christmas from Crafty Secrets
• Paper:  Arches Watercolor; Red and Green; Memory Box Spiceberry
• Ink:  Ranger Archival Coco, Distress Embossing, Old Paper, Peeled Paint, Broken China, Scattered Straw, Tattered Rose, Fired Brick, Weathered Wood, Faded Jeans and Vintage Photo
• Accessories:  Spellbinders S4-125 Scalloped Circles – Large, S4-114 Classic Circles – Large, and S7-014 Grand 12” Classic Lace Border; Ranger UTEE and Matte Accents; Tsukineko Sponge Daubers; May Arts Ribbon; DMC Embroidery Floss; Sewing Machine; Foam Tape

That’s all I have for right now.  I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Hey y’all!  All the Member Companies at Splitcoaststampers are hosting challenges today.  The first one I looked at this morning and knew I wanted to do was Crafty Secrets’ Challenge, Pop It!

I decided not to use any of my stamps, but to use the Girlfriends Creative Scraps sheet.  I need a few birthday cards this month and thought I would kill two birds with one stone.

All the edges of the papers were sponged with Antique Linen Distress Ink and the bottom layers were sewn to a background panel.  I used the Spellbinders Contemporary Hearts Borderabilities, layering one over the other with sponging on the bottom one.  The embellishment was made with 1” strips of Graphic 45 paper, rubbed with Matte Accents and then dipped in Vintage Glass Glitter.  Here’s a close-up where I think you can see both the Borderabilities and the glitter.

I think this card also qualifies for the Crafty Secrets weekly challenge, to use a handmade embellishment . . . oh yeah!

• Stamps/Image:  Heartwarming Vintage Collection Creative Scraps – Girlfriends, from Crafty Secrets 
• Paper:  Graphic 45 Baby 2 Bride Collection; Prism Iced Orange and Butter Cream
• Ink:  Ranger Antique Linen Distress
• Accessories:  Spellbinders Classic Rectangles – S4-130 Small and S4-132 Large, S4-212 Contemporary Hearts Borderabilities, and S4-230 Labels Six; Ranger Matte Accents; Art Institute Krystallos Glass Glitter; May Arts Ribbon; Tsukineko Sponge Daubers; Foam Tape; Sewing Machine; Papertrey Vintage Buttons and Rustic Cream Button Twine

I hope you’ve had time to stamp today!  I’ve got a few more challenges I want to take part in so I’m heading back into the studio!

Happy Tuesday!  I hope y’all had a good weekend.  I’m actually a little confused on my days and wished one of my friends a happy birthday when her birthday isn’t for a few days.  Oh well, it’s a little early is all!  I’ve also had to pull my capris out of the closet . . . It’s just a tad too chilly for shorts.  I refuse to put jeans on because I know I’ll be back in my shorts next week (it only needs to be about 68° and I’m good).  My phone just said it was 58° here.

I have a couple of projects setting on my desk waiting for me to decide exactly what I’m going to do with them.  One of them is a cigar box that I’ve decided to keep store-bought cards in.  Sometimes when out and I see a card that literally tickles my funny bone, I go ahead and purchase it to have for future reference.  I’m still working on trying to fill in the engraving and I also need to decide on paper.  I’m in trouble because a 12” piece of designer paper is about 2” too small.  I might need to break into the wallpaper books I picked up at that yard sale.

The card that I was working on and couldn’t decide what to do with is my project for today.  There’s a challenge in the Crafty Secrets’ Forum on Splitcoaststampers, to use a handmade embellishment.    This is exactly what this card needed and I just had to finish it and take part in the challenge!

The image was water colored with Tombow Markers and matted on Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Circles.  I had already sewn the lace to the card, and decided to use the same lace for my embellishment.  I basted along the length of the lace, pulled the thread tight and then tied it off in a circle.  The button was threaded down through the back of the card and tied tight to keep it down.  All the paper was sponged with Old Paper Distress Ink.

• Stamps:  Vintage Christmas from Crafty Secrets
• Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Prism Island Mist Light and Medium; Memory Box Dewfrost
• Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black and Old Paper Distress
• Accessories:  Spellbinders S4-224 Snowflake Borderabilities – Petite, S4-121 Scalloped Circles – Large, S4-116 Classic Circles – Small, and S4-114 Classic Circles – Large; Papertrey Rustic Cream Button Twine, Vintage Cream Satin Ribbon and Vintage Buttons; Ranger Matte Accents; Foam Tape; Tsukineko Sponge Daubers; Sewing Machine; Lace

I hope y’all have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Happy Thursday!  I hope everyone is having a good week so far.  It’s been rainy here and on days like this, you don’t want to get out at all.  Actually, I’ve been putting the shihtz’ on their leashes and I’m standing in the garage  . . . .   I don’t see any reason why we should all get wet.

I’m still in Halloween mode and have more ideas than I’ll ever get down on paper.  Just now I had another and got doing a Google search . . .  I know, I know . . . . BAD!

Anyhoo, I’ve been working on this card for a week or so and decided I needed to finish it up.  It’s just not like me to have more than one project going at a time (well in the past), but these days it seems to happen more and more.  In all honesty, I was talking to Linda Duke yesterday, and she challenged me to finish this one up.  So, I did!

The main image is from the Heartwarming Vintage Collection Calendar that I picked up at CHA.  I cut the pumpkin out and then covered it with Ranger Crackle Accents.   Once it dried, I applied some Vintage Photo Distress Ink over the cracks and then wiped off the extra.  Look at how cool it is!

I distressed some background papers, die cut/embossed a few Nestabilities and kept layering it all together until I was satisfied the result.  The sentiment was found in a book and then printed off with the computer.  Inside is the greeting . . . Happy Halloween.

• Paper:  Heartwarming Vintage Collection – Calendar from Crafty Secrets; imaginisce Hallowhimsy – Wicked Whimsy; Making Memories Halloween; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Soft Suede and Rich Razzleberry; Illustration Board
• Ink:  Ranger Vintage Photo Distress
• Accessories:  Ranger Crackle and Matte Accents; Spellbinders S4-140 Petite Ovals – Small, S4-141 Petite Scalloped Ovals – Small, S4-128 Classic Squares – Large, S4-196 Classic Inverted Scalloped Squares – Large, and S4-190 Labels Four; Computer; Sewing Machine; Foam Tape; Sponge Dauber; Vintage Button from Papertrey; May Arts Ribbon; 7 Gypsies Paper Fasteners; Black Hemp Twine

I just realized that there is no stamping on this card  . . . well I’ll be!  It was still fun to make.

Here’s hoping you have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Good morning!  I’ve got so much new stuff in my stamping stash, that I’m going to start using it when time allows.  Oh and because I didn’t go to Colorado this weekend, time does allow!  I guess I should explain what happened about my classes this weekend.  The promoter of the event didn’t advertise my classes and I felt it was a waste of my time to travel.  The same thing happened last weekend and classes were done by word-of-mouth.  Not good and I spent most of my days in the booth restocking product.  So when I was given the choice of going or staying home, I stayed home.  I will however be in Tinley Park, Illinois!

Anyhoo, I was just putzing around in the studio last night, feeling the need to be creative, when I picked up some new stuff I bought from Crafty Secrets.  No stamping on this card, just some fun distressing!

The image is from the Images & Journal Notes Booklet, Birds & Botanicals.  I cut the image from the lined journal notes.  The lined note section was crumpled, inked and then hand sewn to the front of the card.  The image was covered with Ranger Crackle Accents and when dry Old Paper Distress Ink was sponged over the cracks to highlight them.  Here’s a close-up of what they look like.

Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles were used for some of the layers and the Classic Lace Border was used for the bottom border.  Some Tim Holtz idea-ology hardware was added and a few paper fasteners from 7 Gypsies finishes the card.

• Paper:  Crafty Secrets Images & Journal Notes, Birds & Botanicals; SU Always Artichoke; Papertrey Kraft; K&Company Bailey
• Ink:  Ranger Old Paper Distress
• Accessories:  Spellbinders S7-014 Grand 12” Classic Lace Border and S4-202 Large Deckled Rectangles; Tim Holtz idea-ology Long Fastener, Jump Ring, Swivel Clasp and Philosophy Token; Sanding Tools; Ranger Matte and Crackle Accents; 7 Gypsies Paper Fasteners; Sewing Machine; Tsukineko Sponge Dauber; Papertrey Rustic Cream Button Twine; Sanding Tools

Before I leave today, I have to show you what Kate purchased for her classroom today.  Did I tell you that she is teaching high school chemistry and biology?  Well she is and she’s close to home too!  WOO HOO!  Anyhoo, she wanted something for her classroom and went to the local pet store yesterday and this is what they worked up for her.

A total eco system with 4 Dart frogs!

It is sooooooooo cool!  The pictures above were taken when the terrarium was sitting in the front seat of her car, so there was a little glare, etc.  The thing weighs close to 50 lbs, but look at the great colors of these frogs!  Once again, it is so totally awesome and cooooooooooool!!!!!

I hope you have a fabulous day and thanks for stopping by!