Happy Fall!

It's another beautiful Monday morning! :D Are you ready for your week? Can you BELIEVE it's the last week in September?!?! I can't.

I went to a Stampin' Up! regional get-together this weekend; once I've got my head on straight, I'll probably be showing things from it to you. However, I'm trying to get ahead with my posting right now, so it might be a little bit before I actually get to the recent things. :D

Do you remember the card I posted on the 12th? The one we did with the hostesses, that had the leaves from LOVELY AS A TREE on it? Well, I had the card stock cut for one more card, and decided to show you how versatile that little layout could be. :) I flipped the card, so it's now a horizontal layout, and embossed the Soft Suede with the Perfect Polka Dots (I seem to be using that one quite a bit, don't I?) for some texture. The pear basket stamp is from the ALWAYS THANKFUL stamp set. I just used my Aqua Painters to color it, same as the other one. I centered the image on this one, versus placing it in the bottom right corner - but otherwise, the card's the same thing!

Can you tell I'm ready for fall? :D

OK, I'm outta here. SO much to do, and never enough time to do it in. :D Have a WONDERFUL day, and be SURE to make the time to STAMP something!

Fall Card with Hostesses!

Good morning! How's the week going? Are you enjoying it? :)

Today's share is one we did at our Hostess Party on Friday night. It was our last night with our friend, Mary; I've mentioned that she's retired and moving to be near her son and his family. I'm thrilled for her, but I'm SO going to miss her!

Anyway. :) It's that lovely woodgrain embossing folder again, done on Soft Suede with Soft Suede ink "highlighting" the texture.

We stamped the leaf from LOVELY AS A TREE in Chocolate Chip craft ink, then embossed with clear powder. I like doing that, because it give me a little ridge when I'm using my Aqua Painters, so the color doesn't go all over the card stock. :)

We used a little bit of Smootch ink on the acorn after we colored it in with Soft Suede; I didn't like that SUPER dark look. The pearlized surface is really reflecting the light back, so you can't even tell it's been colored! :D

Add a little sponging around the outside of the focal piece of card stock, and there you have it! :) I really, really like the woodgrain!!!! (Not that you could tell or anything.... :D)

OK, I'm outta here! Have a WONDERFUL day, and be SURE to take the time to STAMP something!

Isn't it time for there to be HAPPY happenings?

I know you're getting tired of seeing them, but my need for sympathy cards continues. I liked that color combo so much last week, I decided to go there again. And I already had the woodgrain embossed piece. I used More Mustard on the leaves on the tree; some of it's more intense than the rest, which gives it that great varied look. I'm so glad Stampin' Up!®'s not gotten rid of LOVELY AS A TREE; it's a perfect set for sympathy cards.

If you have any questions about this card, please ask me! :)

Have a wonderful day! Be sure to stamp SOMETHING! (And send it to me! I need happy mail! LOL!)

Late on Friday - imagine that.... :D

Sorry, ladies and gentlemen - I was going to post this morning, but my computer was NOT cooperating. SO, I'll give you this one, late in the day!

It's one of three you'll see from last night's Technicolor Watercolor Class! :)

We had a great time!

Card stock: Garden Green, Creamy Caramel, Night of Navy, watercolor paper

Ink: Versamark, Not Quite Navy Stampin' Write Marker

Stamp sets: Kind Thanks, Nature's Nest

Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, black embossing powder, Earth Elements Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aqua Painter, embossing buddy, heat tool, Champagne Shimmer Paint, paintbrush, Big Shot :D, SU! Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates

Tomorrow's a Spring Quick Cards Class! Card stock is cut, but it's time to clean up the studio a bit. :D Have a WONDERFUL weekend - and be SURE to take the time to STAMP something!

I've been HIRED!

Sherrill Graf has been with Stampin' Up! for a VERY long time, and has a huge downline. She hires other demos to make samples for her - and pays with merchandise.

I GOT HIRED FOR SEPTEMBER!!! :D

Of course, I've already started to design; I thought I'd share one that won't be in a class in the next few months. :D


Card stock: Very Vanilla, Naturals Ivory, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Garden Green

Stamp set: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Dusty Durango, Garden Green, Summer Sun, Creamy Caramel, Pumpkin Pie, Going Gray, Bashful Blue

Accessories: embossing buddy, heat tool, gold embossing powder, aqua painters, Fall Harvest standard Stampin' Around wheel and handle, Basic Brown re-inker in empty standard cartridge

Lots of watercoloring here, but I'm attempting to do my BEST work for you, Sherrill! :) This one is my copy; I'm making one of each that I send her to show you and put on my Inspiration Station! So keep your eyes open! :D

Have a WONDERFUL weekend, and be SURE to take the time to STAMP SOMETHING - it's cheaper than therapy. :D

Flagged my blog, can you believe it???

:D Blogger's spam-prevention robots flagged my blog as a possible spam blog. What the heck IS a spam blog, anyway?!?!?!?

So, I'm going to go ahead and get this post ready to go out as soon as they've reviewed my request to be UN-flagged. Silly. :) Edit: I've been RELEASED! :D Or you wouldn't be reading this.... ;)

Here's another watercoloring sample I did the other day. Again, it's using my Stampin' Write markers. It's an unusual color choice for me, but I really do like it. The bacground is Cameo Coral, and the mat is Not Quite Navy. Using SUMMER BY THE SEA - one of my all-time favorite sets!!! :) It's also stamped on watercolor paper. I really like working with this medium! With aqua painters and my set of markers, I can color almost ANYTHING! :) Look out, world!!!

OK, I'm off - Kenn and I are taking off this weekend, so I need to pack! I'm taking some stampin' stuff with me - I hope YOU are taking the time to stamp something, too! :)

Wow, three days in a ROW! :D

You might get used to this! LOL!!!

I wanted to show you this card today. I did it last night, thinking I'd use it for my workshops this month. I absolutely LOVE it - I think it looks like something you'd find in a card store! :D - but it's really detailed, and NOTHING on it's retiring. I'd rather we use the stamps that are leaving forever, so YOU get to see it NOW. :D

I told you I loved this new way of watercoloring! :D

Paper is watercolor paper, Basic Black and Kraft card stocks. I sponged the Kraft with some Close to Cocoa ink, just to give it a bit of texture and depth. That's Basic Black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon just tied in a knot around the card.

The stamps are from two different sets; the woman in the boat is from SUMMER BY THE SEA, which is NOT retired but IS on the current Dormant List, so it's STILL AVAILABLE!!!!!!!! :D The saying is from WINDS OF GRACE, a great masculine set - but I really like this saying here. So, here it is. :D

I used black Stazon for both stamps, then drenched each area I worked on with my Aqua Painters before putting down some color from my Stampin' Write Markers. Blotting was important! :D Also, a lot of the color dried really light - not a bad thing, just letting you know for YOUR projects! :D

I'd love to hear what you think about this card - you have all fallen quiet on me, and I feel like I'm talking into cyberspace again! :D

PLEASE don't forget to vote on the ANNUAL BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE CARD! If you did it before the 1st, please go look again - I had forgotten one that's really worthy of your consideration, too!!!!!!!

OK, I'm off to get back to work. :D Have a WONDERFUL, BLESSED day - and don't forget to take the time to STAMP something - then bless someone with it! :D

eScape Was Wednesday!

Well, I have to admit that I didn't do too well at not getting on the computer, but I tried. :D And I had a great time with the two people who showed up at my get-together. I just do EVERYTHING via email anymore! :)





This is one project of the two we did. Let me tell you, dear reader, I've found my new favorite way to watercolor! With MARKERS! Look!



You HAVE to use watercolor paper for this. Regular card stock will get too wet, and peel away. Also, definitely use Stazon as your image ink. It doesn't BUDGE. :)

Colors of card stock are More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, and Not Quite Navy. Stamp set is WINDS OF GRACE, and the verse from it is stamped inside the card.

First, drench the area you're going to work on with your Aqua Painter. Using your darker marker, put down some color - then move it where you want with your AP. Put down the next color, and blend. Finish with the lighter color and blend. Go to the next area - you may only want one color, or two.

I did the rocks with Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, and Creamy Caramel. The tower is done with a Bordering Blue, and the banding is Brilliant Blue - be SURE to keep a kleenex or paper towel nearby to blot!!! The cap is More Mustard. Sky is Bashful Blue, and the water is Not Quite Navy and Bordering Blue.

I'd love to hear what you think of this one! :D And to see what YOU are stamping! You ARE stampin', aren't you???? ;)