Wow

Have I been busy!?! When I looked at the last time I posted I couldn't believe it. That shows you how long it has been since I completed a card too. I started a new job and have lost my mojo at the same time. I have a card started on my table that I just can't get completed. Hang in there with me and I shall get back on track as soon as the shock of the new job has worn off. :o) For Now, Happy Crafting!

Distressing and Clean and Simple

A quick post today. I wanted to show you a quick card that I completed for the SCS Clean and Sample Challenge this week. The card was done with a totally "frivolous" stamp I bought at the Stamp Convention. This cute little turtle is named "Bob" and I got him from Heartfelt Impressions.

The challenge was complete a Clean and Simple Card that had distressing someplace on it. Remember, a CAS card is one that has only a few layers and lots of clean space. I colored Bob with my Prisma Pencils and Gamsol. All of the papers are CTMH and the sentiment stamp is from Sparkles and Sprinkles. The martini glasses are a punch from my stash.

The paper distressing was done with my CTMH distressing tool. It is a great little gismo that was actually one of my first "tool" purchases. I like it because it is a circle with the blades protected so that there is no chance of cutting yourself like you can with a scissors. I also have pictured the CTMH files. These guys are great! I use them to smooth edges especially when my papercutter blade is getting dull. I have also used them the smooth edges when I cut out a stamped image. Both of these tools are definably "Frugal." I have used them both over and over again. With both tools costing less than $5 each they are a worthwhile purchase. Check out my CTMH site for these and other great CTMH tools and products. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Easter Card

Here is another Easter Card I completed.

I learned a few things while doing this card that I want to share. Notice how the bunny is stamped on Petal CS. By the way, the stamp is from Outline Rubber Stamp Company and is totally a "frivolous" purchase. I was in line and he was sitting right by the cash register and he jumped into my basket. He is cute! Anyway, my intent was to try a technique called "Bleaching." This technique involves painting the stamped image with a nylon bristle brush and bleach to remove the color from the CS. I was "smart" enough to try it on a scrap paper first. It didn't work! I use almost exclusively Close to My Heart card stock. I tried the technique on other CS and it worked. Because I had the card laid out, I was not going to waste so I just colored the stamp with Prisma Markers instead.

I mention the CTMH CS as a complement to the quality of the paper. The CS is a very heavy weight and has the great white core. It is great for distressing and images stamp very well. The colors are vibrant and match the DP and inks perfectly. I think it speaks to the quality of the paper that the bleaching technique did not work. While the CS does cost more than other papers, I am a firm believer that if I am going to spend my time completing a project, I want the best quality supplies available. Close to My Heart cardstock is definitely a "frugal" purchase.

A few more notes about this card. All the papers are CTMH. I used Flower Soft on the bunny tail. The butterflies are Sizzix and Cuttlebug dies and the embossing is with a CB folder. The bling was added with Stickles and a gel glitter pen.

I'm now off to complete the card that is laid out on my table. I also must get all these cards to the Post Office. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Another Stamp Show...Yippee!

I hope everyone has had a good few days. I certainly did! My enabler friend and I paddled off to another stamp show. Here in Philadelphia, we were fortunate to have 2 Shows 2 weeks in a row. Hum...bad for the pocketbook but good for the economy. I broke my rule of purchasing only supplies. As we walked up and down the aisles, my mantra became "Frugal, Frivolous or Foolish." I tried to purchase things that I can't get elsewhere and things that I wished that I would have purchased the previous week. I got more Dove Blending Supplies and 2 more Flower Soft Colors. The Dove Blending fluid is only available around here on the Internet. The Flower Soft is the same so now I have my colors for the Holidays. Rationalization, Rationalization, Rationalization! :o)

I did purchase a few supplies and products that I will be reviewing in the near future. My biggest expense was at the Outlines Rubber Stamp Company. http://www.outlinesrubberstamp.com/ Take a look at their store. There stamps are so unique. I normally don't do a great deal of work with bling, but these cards and stamps are magnificent. The subject matter ranges from images for most Holidays to Birthdays to Just Because. I went back to the booth 3 times!!! Not only do they have stamps, but they also carry jewelery making supplies with crystals, ornament toppers and these handing snowflakes made from the stamps. Very difficult to even describe.

Here is my first attempt with just 2 of the stamps I purchased.

I must have taken at least a dozen pictures of this card and no matter what I did the glimmer doesn't show well. If you click on the picture and enlarge it the glimmer does show. The background mat is one stamp. It is painted with Yasmutomo Watercolor paints and then each line is highlighted with a gel glitter pen. The smaller stamp is done with CTMH Spring Iris ink and then highlighted with the glitter pen. All of the papers are CTMH. When you check out their store, you will understand why I did the card with so much bling. It was not a difficult card to make but it was time consuming.

How do I rank these as per my system....definitely Frugal. The stamps are well made and very easy to use. Outlines also had grab bags of unmounted stamps for $6. That is where I did the damage. The site also has similar bags for sale. In the days to come, I will share more of my efforts to stimulate the Pennsylvania economy. For Now, Happy Crafting!

A Blog Award!!!

I got some pleasant news the other day....I was bestowed with a blog award! Thank you so much Lisa. Check out here blog...she does beautiful work. http://adornmentsbylisa.blogspot.com/

Easter Card with a Dove Blender Pen

Last Saturday when I went to the craft show, I purchased a Dove Blender Pen. I had not heard of them, but the friend I was with had it on her shopping list. So, when in Rome....She bought a starter kit that include pen, replacement tips and a bottle of the blending fluid for approximately $10.50. I was not convinced, so I bought a pen and replacement nibs for around $6.00. A gal doing demonstrations at the booth, suggested that the pens could be used to blend either chalks or water color pencils. She also stated that you could use the pen with Gamsol. If you have not heard of the Dove product, it is a refillable pen with a fluid in it that blends the applied color.

Today, I got a new stamp set from CTMH. It was perfect to try with chalks and water color pencils. I personally don't mind using a stump with Gamsol so I am not even going to try it (at least for now :o) ). Here are the results...


I like chalked images to appear "soft." In my opinion, the blender pen muddied the colors. I was not pleased with the results and will not bother doing the technique again. I did like the results of the blender pen with the water color pencils. The Blender Pen mixed the colors easily which allowed for shading effects. The colors remained vibrant. The other great thing is the image was stamped on normal cardstock. I think the pen would work great for a quick project when you don't want to "bother" with water color paper. The CS did not curl or run like it can when doing the normal water color technique. Here is the complete card using the water color image. The card layout was for the SCS sketch challenge SC222.

Paper
CTMH – Unforgettable, Key to My Heart, Juniper, Sorbet and Colonial White
Stamps
CTMH – Bunny Love
Ink – Stamp Pads
CTMH – Sorbet and Desert Sand
Accessories
Ribbon, Water Color Pencils and Dove Blender Pen

So, Frugal, Frivolous or Foolish...For using the with chalks, I rank it Foolish. The results just weren't good. For using with water color pencils, the Dove Blending Pen was Frugal. It was easy, enhanced the colors and for small projects saves time because it worked well on plain cardstock. I will definitely use it again with water color pencils. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Alzheimer's Disease and a Great Reason to Make a Card!

While surfing the other day, I found a great reason to make a card! Jen is sponsoring blog candy as an encouragement to make cards to raise money for Alzheimer's research. Check out the full details here...http://jentapler.blogspot.com/2009/03/blogoversary-challenge-big-blog-candy.html

Alzheimer's is a devastating disease. As a Geriatric Social Worker and a Nursing Home Administrator, I have been witness to the tragic effects of this disease. The disease ravages both body and spirit. It is heart breaking to watch as the person we know and love slowly slips away from us. Families struggle to understand "why" while the individual endeavors to cling to reality. Thirty five years ago, my Grandmother was publicly labeled as a "crazy old lady." Retrospectively, she had Alzheimer's Disease. I was only a child, but I remember her insisting that she was going home to her Mother. I remember her being combative. I remember her not being able to recall my name.


Today, because of the efforts of researchers, The Alzheimer's Association and individuals like Jen, the disease is no longer only spoken about behind closed doors. Sufferers are no longer labeled "crazy old ladies." While there is not yet a cure, let's do everything in our power to further the cause. What a wonderful reason to make a card!

My card for the cause. For Now, Happy Crafting!