*Gasp* A mid-week post

It's weird - I have time to stamp in the mornings again. And I also have time to post my stuff. So - hopefully - this will be an incentive for me to post more than Sunday nights.

If only this extra time in the mornings didn't come with the loss of work hours. But I'm okay.

It's a Color Challenge day and today's colors are Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, and Garden Green. Okay... this is going to be interesting because I don't own PP and BB inks. I have a small amount paper, but no inks. Then I remembered that I'd experimented with these colors earlier - and found the combos.

Stamps: PTI - Heart Prints. Paper: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Garden Green, Select White. Ink: Garden Green, Brilliant Blue & Tempting Turquoise (Pacific Point), Bashful Blue & Sage Shadow (Baja Breeze). Accessories: ticket corner punch, brads, dimensionals, stickles.

The other 2 cards I made on Sunday when I was playing with my new stash of PTI.

Stamps: PTI - Made of Snow, Heart Prints. Paper: Raspberry Fizz, Aqua Mist, Select White. Ink: Aqua Mist, Raspberry Fizz, Dark Chocolate, Palette Noir. Accessories: rhinestones, dimensionals, ribbon.


Stamps: PTI - Snowfall Additions, Made of Snow. Paper: Raspberry Fizz, Select White. Ink: Brilliance Moonlight White, Aqua Mist. Accessories: brad, ribbon.

That's all for today.

Hoping you're warm wherever you are,

New Cards

It's been awhile since I've posted pictures of cards I made, so I figure I'm due. For some reason, I'm in a very simple card kick at the moment: white base, an image and a small accent and sentiment. It's weird for me.

I made this card last weekend, but never took a picture of it at the time - I'm not quite sure why. It's super simple.
Stamps: SU - Garden Whimsy. Paper: PTI Select White, My Mind's Eye dp. Ink: Ocean Tides. Accessories: corner rounder punch, Basic Black marker, dimensionals.

Angel sent me some Riley images what seems like forever ago and I never used them. I pulled them out and colored them in with my Copic markers, then made cards out of them.

Stamps (image really): Hanna - Riley. Paper: PTI Select, Basic Black. Ink: Pumpkin Pie. Accessories: Copic Markers, brads, ticket corner punch, dimensionals, ribbon.

And now, for something completely different. A man with a tape recorder... Oops. Channeling Monty Python for a second.

But seriously, to take a step in the completely opposite direction, I made a card for the Featured Stamper Challenge on SCS. Here is Lori's Card

I changed: Colors, left the punched stuff off, added more brads, have shimmer primas instead of felt flowers.

Stamps: SU - Fabulous Flowers, PTI - Mixed Messages. Paper: Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss, Select White. Ink: Ripe Avocado, Spring Moss. Accessories: dimensionals, mat pack, brads, glimmer mist, primas.

Hoping for a good week (for me and everyone else),

Spending Moratorium

It turns out that the budget at work is lousy, so hours are being cut. Mine included.

I was planning on doing another buying moratorium this year like I did last year around Lent.

It's going to start really soon. And it stinks because I just got the new Stampin' Up! catalog today from my demo and there are stamps that I want from other companies too.

I'll figure something out.

Copics on Parade

I've been having fun playing around with my new Copic markers. On Saturday, I stamped a page of Stamping Bella images and sat in front of the tv and colored. Some of the images look better than others, but that's part of learning.

I made cards with my newly colored images. Each image is colored differently.

Stamps: Stamping Bella - Eloise Greengrass, MFT - Essential Sentiments. Paper: PTI Select White, Basic Black. Ink: Palette Noir. Accessories: Nestabilities, Copic Markers.

Today's challenge was to play with Tacky Tape and glitter. A sticky, messy business, but I actually came out of it glitter-free (well, as far as I can see.) I layed out my tape (relatively straight thanks to some graph paper I had on my table) and added 2 colors of Martha Stewart glitter. I'm a bit frustrated that I didn't get full coverage - there are bits of Tacky Tape still able to get stuck to other bits of paper, the table, etc.

My image is from Cherish by Clear Art Stamps. It was stamped twice - I colored just the rose on one of the images, cut it out and popped it up with a dimensional. It's all colored with my Copic markers. My black layer was hand-trimmed.

I rushed through this card - it needs something else: a ribbon for the bottom, a sentiment down there, another heart. I just don't know.

Stamps: Clear Art Stamps - Cherish. Paper: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Basic Black, PTI Select White. Ink: Palette Noir. Accessories: Tacky Tape, Martha Stewart Glitter, dimensionals, Copic Markers.

Hoping that the roads aren't total skating rinks,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

I know I'm late for the Christmas part, but I honestly haven't been around the computer recently.

I'm off from work until the 5th, so I'm hoping to actually get down into the dungeon and play with my stamps.

Oh, and make some cards with one of my Christmas presents:

the 72A set of Copic Sketch markers. :)

I've been playing around with them a little and I'm liking the results I'm getting. Next step: smaller images.

I'm hoping to post something tomorrow, but just in case I get completely sidetracked - as anyone who reads this blog is aware can happen regularly - have a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Christmas is coming

And surprisingly, I actually have (some) time to stamp.

It's like a taking a deep breath. I finished the cards for my coworker (and have been paid), presents have been bought and wrapped, and thank you cards for work (they pay me for them) are up to date.

Oh, and yesterday's snow day wasn't bad at all. Yes, the roads were blech, I almost got run over by a snowplow, I watched a mail truck slide every which way, and we were afraid we were going to get stuck at daycare with all the snow, but it was a calm day kid-wise.

I also have my boss' Christmas present done. Since I have a TON of cards just sitting up here next to my computer - I bring them up from the Dungeon, take a picture and leave them here - I was encouraged to gift some of them away. So my boss is getting some of them - and a cute little gift set of a post-it note holder, beaded pen and a coaster calendar. All of which are really easy and quick to do (my trouble? Finding the time.)

Stamps: PTI - Butterfly Kisses. Paper: white, Elegant Eggplant, Cosmo Cricket dp (jumping joan, I believe.) Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Versamark. Accessories: acrylic 4x6 photo frame, post-it notes, UTEE, 4x4 coaster, staple, magnetic tape, RSVP pen, microbeads, tacky tape, Martha Stewart glitter.

The IC (inspiration challenge) was posted early last night. It's the Saturday challenge on SCS. This week's challenge is all about the work of Alexander Girard - and the company maXimo that markets it now. Here's the thread on SCS.

Inspiration is a funny thing. Things that inspire one person don't inspire another. I generally don't do the IC on SCS (wow, lots of acronyms) because I just look at it and think, "I'm supposed to make a card from this?"

This week was easy - a lot easier than others. I liked the attachment of the building blocks - the bright vibrant colors were refreshing. Especially since most of yesterday was consumed by white.

The snowflakes are stamped in Versamark on Very Vanilla cardstock, then embossed clear. I then sponged the color over them and added a rhinestone.

I stamped my sentiment on some SU twill tape in Chocolate Chip ink. My knot is tied off to the side to have the most stamping room.

**I never thought I'd ever say this, but I think my card would be better with kraft cardstock as the base. I don't own any, but I might have to get some from PTI the next time I order.

Stamps: PTI - Snowfall Additions. Paper: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion, Only Orange, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla. Ink: Versamark, Pink Passion, Only Orange, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip. Accessories: clear ep, rhinestones, word window punch, twill tape.

Wishing everyone a very wonderful weekend,

I got an award!

Riley over at Stampin' & Dancin' with Riley (in my blog roll under Riley) gave me an award today. I don't get awards often, so it's a special treat.

I think in the rules for this award, you list 5 things you're addicted to.

1) Romance novels. Gotta love the happy ever after (or vampires. I like vampires, especially when they get happy ever afters.)
2) Stamps and associated supplies. I don't think I'll ever have enough stamps or ink pads.
3) Caffeine. I work with kids, 'nuff said.
4) The tv show Top Chef (oh and Project Runway)
5) Candy canes.

I'm going to pass the award to:
Shelly
Cammie
Connie
Keri
Jessica

It's a little warmer today than it was yesterday. Which is a plus. :)

Hoping for warmer weather and snow that falls only on the grass (not on the streets or driveways),