2009 May » » Page 2

Happy Memorial Day!

Copic Markers, Photography, Rubbernecker, Sewing/Stitching, Spellbinders, Techniques 6 Responses »

May 242009

Yesterday I went with my mother, sister and aunt to the country for Decoration Day. I know that it is now called Memorial Day, but my grandfather always called it Decoration Day. He never missed a year in decorating the graves of those family members long gone. From the time I was a little girl, I can remember going with my grandparents to the cemeteries. I have always been fascinated by the stories my grandfather would tell of his ancestors and the old headstones. Yesterday I took my camera along to make sure I got some pictures. I have a few things in mind for projects and knew that I could find just the right items to photograph and use.

I was extremely touched by this angel yesterday.

I don’t know that this is one of the oldest in the cemetery, but the only angel I saw. As I looked at her and the aging the elements have caused, it made me think of the family that was buried there. There must be no one left, as there were no flowers and all the headstones were in very bad shape. However, if one cleaned them and in particular the angel, would they have the same effect and appeal as they do now? Probably not! I think that eventually you will see her again . . . perhaps as a background or even the main element.

AND because it is Memorial Day Weekend,

Stamps: Patriotic Collection Flag Chickie SKU:57-10 from Rubbernecker Stamps
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Prism Nautical Blue Dark; SU Riding Hood Red and Western Sky Designer Series
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black and Ranger Snow Cap Pigment
Accessories: Spellbinders Petite 5-1/2” Deckled Scalloped Borderabilities, Stars 5 Nestabilities, Large Octagon Nestabilities and Large Scalloped Octagons Nestabilities; Venture Foam Tape; Tsukineko Sponge Dauber; Copic Markers; Sewing Machine; Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you’re enjoying the long weekend!

Easy Watercolor Flowers!

Rubbernecker 11 Responses »

May 222009

Good morning! I can hardly believe it’s Friday and the start of a holiday weekend. We have no plans for the long weekend, so I’m hoping to get some major stamping time in. I’ve pretty much taken it easy the last couple of days (because of that darn root canal) and slept in, taken naps, etc. This morning the pups (Frick and Frack as I’ve been calling them lately) came in and bounded on the bed, biting my ears, licking my face and hair . . . basically telling me to get up. Okay, I did! It was 7:00 a.m., in the morning . . . what were they thinking!

Anyway, the point this morning. I was down in the studio last night trying to organize all my Spellbinder dies. I’ve come up with this neat system that I’ve got to show you when I’m done. I’m getting close . . . . just about 10 or so more. While sitting at my table, I looked over and saw this week’s Sketch Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I always print them out, even though I hardly ever play along. Last night I decided I needed to be creative and stamp. So I did!

I picked my paper first, matching the colors of the flowers to the paper. Using SU markers, I colored the flowers, misted them with water and then stamped them on watercolor paper. The flowers and the scalloped panel behind them, were die cut and embossed using Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities. The sentiment was stamped in Ranger Archival Coffee and then die cut and embossed with Spellbinders Standard Tag Shapeabilities. I love how watercolor paper embosses with these dies. The edges of all the paper, including the image and sentiment, were sponged with Antique Linen Distress Ink.

Stamps: 466 Wildflower Silhouettes from Rubbernecker Stamps
Paper: Strathmore Watercolor; BasicGrey Porcelain; Prism Rose Light, Birchtone Dark and Herbal Garden Medium
Ink: Ranger Antique Linen Distress and Archival Coffee; SU Cameo Coral and Old Olive
Accessories: Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities and Standard Tag Shapeabilities; Venture Foam Tape; Tsukineko Sponge Dauber; May Arts Ribbon; BasicGrey Porcelain Button and Brads; SU Stampin’ Write Markers; Ranger Mini Mister and Matte Accents

Have a great day and thanks for stopping in. Mr. Stodgy is home today so I need to act like I’m truly busy during the days when he’s at work. Maybe some laundry? It’s easy . . . I can start it and then forget about it.

Wrinkle-Free Distress!

Rubbernecker, Tag Art, Tutorials 8 Responses »

May 212009

Happy Thursday! A few months ago, Beate from Splitcoaststampers asked me to write a tutorial on that “inky thing I do.” It was published yesterday on Splitcoaststampers and can be found under the Resources section as “Wrinkle-Free Distress.” I contacted Tim Holtz and asked his permission to recreate the tutorial for SCS, and what he actually called this technique . . . I didn’t want to get it wrong!

Here’s the card I created as my sample for the tutorial.

Instead of letting the tag stand alone, I decided to incorporate it into a card. Once I had finished the tag, and had the layout for the card, I stamped the flourish images on both the card front and the tag. I lined the flourishes up, and raised the tag with mounting tape. Some of the images on the card, i.e., the butterflies and small flourishes are a sneak peek of what’s coming next from Rubbernecker Stamps.

Stamps: 427 Butterfly Inchies, 467 Floral Silhouette, 461 Scraps & Scuffs, 436 Flourish and 423 Flourish Inchies from Rubbernecker Stamps
Paper: Manila Shipping Tag and Prism Herbal Garden Dark and Medium
Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black, Adirondack Snow Cap Pigment, and Broken China, Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Spiced Marmalade, Black Soot and Faded Jeans Distress
Accessories: Ranger Non-Stick Craft Sheet, Glossy Accents, Mini Mister, Cut-n-Dry Stamp Pad Felt; Venture Foam Tape; May Arts Ribbon; Copic At You Red Spica; DMC Embroidery Floss; Brads; Oval Punch; Candle Lighter
All product and images from Rubbernecker Stamps

I hope you try this technique and have as much fun with it as I do! Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Rubbernecker WACKY WEDNESDAY!

Copic Markers, Inchie Art, Rubbernecker, Spellbinders, Techniques 11 Responses »

May 202009

Good morning! Man has it been hectic the last couple of days. First, the SCS Blogs were moved to a new server and there was a slight problem that wasn’t fixed until late this afternoon. Second, I finally broke down and went to the hand surgeon today for this trigger finger of mine. The thumb on my left hand had started to hurt and it was getting hard to open jars, etc. I thought I might have truly damaged my thumb. As it turned out, the thumb was part of the trigger finger issue. So I got two cortisone shots today, one in my thumb and one in my middle finger. I’m crossing all 9 toes that this helps for a while!

This week for the Rubbernecker Wacky Wednesday Challenge, Candy has challenged all of us to use inchies on our card or project. You can get all the details and learn how you can win a 40% off coupon from Rubbernecker Stamps at the Rubbernecker Blog. You can also visit the Red-Hot Mommas blogs to see other examples!

Now I don’t want you to or anything, but I didn’t distress, sponge, use brads or sand on my card today! I had to ask my family if I felt warm . . . I truly thought I might have had a fever.

The little chick was colored with Copic Markers and then die cut (along with all the layers behind the inchie) with Spellbinders Square Nestabilities. The background was embossed with the new Spellbinders Paisley Impressabilities . . . isn’t that just the coolest look? I know you think those are brads in the corners but they are actually Fiskars Dew Drops that I found buried in some junk I had. I tell ya, there’s absolutely no way in hell that I can remember what I have and where to find it. I also have to tell you, that this card took me just as long to make as it would for one that I distressed from top to bottom.

Stamps: 436 Easter Inchies and 439 Party Time from Rubbernecker Stamps
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; Prism Baby Blue Dark, Sunflowers Medium and Black
Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black and Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Square Nestabilities, Paisley Impressabilities, Petite 5-1/2” Scalloped Borderabilities, and Tags 5 Shapeabilities; Ranger Matte Accents; Fiskars Rain Dots; Venture Foam Tape; Ribbon; Button; Black Twine

I hope y’all have a great day and thanks for dropping in. I’ve got another dentist appointment today . . . yucky! This time it’s to see what molars I need root canal on.